Postal fan launches attack

By Ellie Gibson Published 12 January, 2006

On Moscow synagogue.

Controversial Running With Scissors title Postal is in the news again after a man who is said to be a fan of the game launched an attack on worshippers at a Moscow synagogue.

According to Russian news site Pravda, 20 year old Alexander Koptsev entered the building yesterday at about 5.30pm and launched an assault which left eight people injured. Four of those hurt were taken to hospital and are said to be in a "severe condition."

Koptsev's father told Pravda: "My son has never been a member of any religious or political organisation. I think that he could see all those Nazis, extremists and skinheads only on TV."

The father went on to reveal that his son enjoyed bodybuilding and playing computer games, and it was later stated that his game of choice is Postal. According to Pravda, Koptsev "Was playing computer games a lot. It is not ruled out that the man has committed the crime in the state of temporary insanity because of the games."

Koptsev's father also told newspaper Kommersant that a book he spotted on his son's desk may have something to do with the attack.

""We hardly have any books at home. That is why I asked him what kind of book he was reading," he said.

"He answered that the book was about Jews and how they sold Russia. He did not want to talk about the book with me."

A Rabbi who witnessed the attack said the incident came to an end after Koptsev was seized by a synagogue official. He is now being held by police.

The news comes on the same day that Running With Scissors issued an announcement proudly proclaiming that gamers in all of the countries where Postal is banned, including Australia, New Zealand and Korea, will now be able to get their hands on the game - since it's available online via Softwrap.

"We believe that people have the same right to play any game they want to as they should have the right to read books, see films and listen to music of their choosing," said RWS CEO Vince Desi.

"Our games are ESRB rated and their contents clearly explained. No one is being harmed and the Earth will not spin off its axis because a game with a notorious reputation is sold around the world via the Internet."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (59) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Syrette #1 6 years ago

    BAN THIS SICK FILTH

  • Glitch #2 6 years ago

    I disagree, nutters will commit crimes if they play games or lick apples, its all irrelevant!
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/06 @ 13:41

  • sickpuppysoftware #3 6 years ago

    Burn all the books! It's the only way to be sure

  • paulf #4 6 years ago

    calling JT calling JT russia needs you get on the first plane to moscow (please)

  • Furbs #5 6 years ago

    foreverafternothing, for once, bearing in mind the game in question, I agree with this statement. POSTAL = Piece Of Shit Thats Awfully Lame.

    Took me a whole minute to think of that.

  • neon #6 6 years ago

    yawn

  • The_Aardvark #7 6 years ago

    "Man attacks synagogue after reading neo-nazi propaganda! Videogames blamed!"

  • Syrette #8 6 years ago

    "Epiletic kid suffers from seizure whilst playing violent videogame - violence blamed!"
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/06 @ 13:52

  • Eldritch #9 6 years ago

    Great Pravda headline:

    "Condoleezza Rice's anti-Russian stance based on sexual problems

    The US Secretary of State released a coarse anti-Russian statement. This is because she is a single woman who has no children"

    Surely, that's one serious source of information you have there!

  • Teeth #10 6 years ago

    "World blows up! Videogames almost certainly the cause!"

  • reality_cheque #11 6 years ago

    "Violence videogames blamed for world war II! Leading arsecake Jack Thompson claims that 'Hitler was addicted to Call Of Duty 2', his horde of mindless middle-american clones cheer his speech with resounding cries of 'Baaaaa!' Dave Codemonkey, CEO of ViolentGamesRUs tries to argue that 'perhaps people should raise their children rather than leaving it to Big Bird or Barney' but gets drowned in a tide of media bullshit"

  • Stickman #12 6 years ago

    "A vast amount of anti-semite literature and hitler memorabilia was found at the accused home, however, he once picked up a copy of Postal that someone else had dropped."

    The evidence is indeed damning.

  • Eldritch #13 6 years ago

    "Ernie and Bert in gay bondage shock!"

  • Furbs #14 6 years ago

    "UK economy collapses. Gaming website blamed"

  • PearOfAnguish #15 6 years ago

    You're not actually taking your news from Pravda now, are you? They're the Russian equivalent of the Weekly World News.

  • Eldritch #16 6 years ago

    Russian man tattoos Putin on his chest

    "When I had the tattoo done, I became more serious and responsible”- comments Pavel as he strokes the tattoo on his chest. “It is as if the President’s image had penetrated into me."

    The fun never stops on Pravda.ru!

  • Stickman #17 6 years ago

    "You're not actually taking your news from Pravda now, are you? They're the Russian equivalent of the Weekly World News. "

    Ellie in 'Trying to Stir Things Up' shocker! We're not bloody lab-beagles woman! Stop putting your filthy 'news' cosmetics on us!

    Exclaim!

  • Eldritch #18 6 years ago

    Supportive, protective and delightful bras horrify fragile men

    "Doctors say that men may run certain risks when they experience a wonderful pleasure of undressing a woman."

  • Jericho #19 6 years ago

    "Extra Extra"

    "Video games banned for all wrong doing ever done by man, including when video games hadn't even been invented"

    I hate these fuckwit journalists who blame everything on games.

  • pauleyc #20 6 years ago

    There was this old joke regarding USSR papers Pravda ("truth";) and Izvyestia (news";): "There is no truth in Izvyestia and no news in Pravda".

    "Postal [...] is a game about a postman, who suddenly loses his mind, grabs a knife, goes out into the streets of London and starts killing people." London...?

    The Rice article though...it's no wonder, considering Russia's current leadership.
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/06 @ 14:21

  • Carlo #21 6 years ago

    11 year old Epiletic kid has fit playing 'violent' game which clearly states 15+ age rating (but his two teacher parents let him). Game to blame; parents say game's rating not clear enough (or the 'Epilecy warning' in the manual didn't jump out of the box and bite them on the ass).

    BTSF!

  • Horse #22 6 years ago

    Vince Desi'll look pretty dumb if the world does spin off its axis.

  • Eldritch #23 6 years ago

    "Game's "save game" feature makes man jump from cliff after "saving" - dead"

    "Man sues film studio: 'The Neverending Story' was over after 90 minutes."

  • Stickman #24 6 years ago

    What kind of a dunderfuck (tm) breaks their finger taking a bra off a woman?

    Bet he was a gamer.

  • bionutz #25 6 years ago

    probably! only used to use the thumbs :p

  • reality_cheque #26 6 years ago

    27 seconds? Even I can beat that, up until 3 years ago I was a geek with minimal social skills.

    My friend used to be able to undo a bra with one hand through THREE layers of clothing, including a coat. Usually with the poor lass in question not knowing until she suddenly felt her support disappear.

    Damn, I miss being at uni.

  • Eldritch #27 6 years ago

    On the tube?

  • djchump #28 6 years ago

    Bengalibengali said: "People do have a natural dislike for Jews. Im not sure why"
    Piss off! Speak for yourself you racist twat - don't pretend to speak for me or any other "people".

  • Eldritch #29 6 years ago

    "People do have a natural dislike for Jews."

    No, you do. Speak for yourself. Or, better still, don't.

  • LPXO #30 6 years ago

    "Jack Thompson legal team caught having blindfolded circle jerk!"

  • Psi #31 6 years ago

    Look how about we agree to ban all videogames for a year... then when all these nutters keep doing stuff and the statistics are the same just say 'told you so' and get back to playing? At least then we could turn round and tell em to shove it...

    ..just think of the children..



  • trevd72 #32 6 years ago

    i blame the body building. you can look at many nutters, serial killers, bouncers and pro wrestlers for evidence of this. As a way to inrease their lowself esteem they build the outer persona. In this story he was also more than likely taking steroids which would also increase his agression. The innerself is then far weaker than the projected outer personna, to remedy this acts of violence are commited.

    BAN BODY BUILDING.

    /goes off to bench press 80kg.

  • neuroniky #33 6 years ago

    I hate taking bras off though. That's why I got a girlfriend that prefer not to use them. So that I don't end up fattening the numbers of the dunderfucks of the world.

    Whats a dunderfuck anyway?

  • Stickman #34 6 years ago

    I think bengali just worded it wrong to be fair. There has been a historical mistrust of Jews throughout the ages that has never been justified. The ultimate minoroty group!

    @neuronicky - PAEDO!!!! Dunderfuck's on urban dictionary. Someone poited it out on the forum recently, and I like the sound of it.
    Edited by 2 at 12/01/06 @ 15:44

  • reality_cheque #35 6 years ago

    I think the reason for the historical mistrust of Jews is probably something to do with the fact that they kind of seperate themselves from society.

    That and the fact that a popular misconception is that they're all penny pinching misers, therefore have lots of money, and most people don't like those who seem to have more than they do.

    It's a fear of the unknown / jealousy thing.

    Edit: OMG serious comments on EG. I'm gonna get me a net and see if I can catch me a gravity defying bacon sandwich.
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/06 @ 15:52

  • trevd72 #36 6 years ago

    Stickman - didnt the jews kill baby jesus :o)

  • Stickman #37 6 years ago

    Oh yeah! I clean forgot about that. Bloody shylocks!

  • Mr_Brown #38 6 years ago

    So noone thought to check if he takes steroids then? If he's into Body Building and he suddenly just loses it, it would make sense would it not. Much more sense than blaming his violent actions on a computer game.

  • reality_cheque #39 6 years ago

    Plus he's russian, where *apparently* the biggest problem is people downing bottles of almost-neat alcohol. I'm pretty sure that'd do something to your brain, especially if you're also on steriods. Still, better than PCP!

    I say apparently as I've not been there and seen it for myself.

  • trevd72 #40 6 years ago

    tony robinson said that they found evidence that the sacking of rome by the barbarian horde can be traced back to the fact that they played total war for days on end.

    Eve gave adam the apple after he beat here high score on zoo keeper according to my local vicar.

    and jack the ripper practiced on that daft game on the DS where you perform operations.

    Video games worse than religion in my opinion, for causing the problems in the world.

  • souljah #41 6 years ago

    If his "game of choice" was indeed Postal, then he was obviously severely mentally handicapped.

  • kangarootoo #42 6 years ago

    "Video games worse than religion in my opinion"

    Religeon is a human creation (well, I think so, and I suspect you do too). Its not the cause of bad things, but simply a stick people sometimes use to beat others with (if they are so inclined, people do good things in the name of God too. My point is that its not the cause but the symptom).

  • LPXO #43 6 years ago

    actually bengali, youve taken a 1 in many gamble that you are right. i dont like those odds dude. i think ur gonna be disappointed when you die. even worse, if youve chosen the wrong religion and its buddhism or something, then your really fucked!

  • Furbs #44 6 years ago

    No, he'll be dead.

    Although I guess you're right, if he was capable of conscious thought, I'm sure he'd think "I wish I was still alive".

  • Teeth #45 6 years ago

    This is the best front page comments thread in weeks, maybe even a month. Possibly a year!

  • Scientist #46 6 years ago

    "This is the best front page comments thread in weeks, maybe even a month. Possibly a year!"

    Just goes to show how much lower the quality of posts is these days.

    When I was young...

  • yagisencho #47 6 years ago

    "He answered that the book was about Jews and how they sold Russia. He did not want to talk about the book with me."

    Ah. So not caused by a game afterall.

  • The-Bodybuilder #48 6 years ago

    >"The father went on to reveal that his son enjoyed bodybuilding and playing computer games"

    Hmmm, I have been thinking of visiting that synagogue down the road...

  • Stickman #49 6 years ago

    Anyone slde finding bengali a bit sinister in this thread? :?

  • ROCKSTORM #50 6 years ago

    I'm all for freedom of expression and all that, but I think Postal is pushing it a bit....

  • admir #51 6 years ago

    now iam starting to wonder what game Adolf Hitler?
    Was it Rome: Total War or Rise of Nations?

    What happend to crazy??

  • kangarootoo #52 6 years ago

    @bengalibengali

    "all I'll say to u is wait till your death. And then U will be sorry"

    Or dead.... One of thetwo I guess. Man thats funny.

    I didn't mean any disrespect, I simply don't share your beliefs. But I could have made my point a little more politely I admit. If you are right and I am wrong then I'm sure I'll get whats coming so don't lose sleep over it.

    @Stickman
    I don't think he is being sinister at all (unless there are deleted posts I have missed). I took his point as I believe he meant it, which is that if I die a non-believer and I turn out to be wrong, I'll probably be a bit gutted. So please don't go trying to put words in his mouth so you can attack his beliefs, that certainly wasn't something I was trying to start.

  • admir #53 6 years ago

    fuck Religeon he dosent exist

  • Psi #54 6 years ago

    lol those of you bashing body building are doing to bodybuilding exactly what they are trying to do to videogames here! Generalising and trying to create a stereotype :p

    "Of course its because he was into bodybuilding that he went crazy you know what it does too people"

    "Of course he spent all his time alone playing violent video games, he was bound to go crazy eventually. You know what it does to people"


    "all I'll say to u is wait till your death. And then U will be sorry" - This insults my belief's as a devoit atheist, when are people going to take my belief that there is no superman from beyond the grave ready to chastise me when i finally pop my cloggs. I honestly mean that btw you have to watch what you say so not to insult any religion but when you really do believe that there is no afterlife and you're just dead when you die you get looked down upon in pity by anyone that does have faith!

  • Stickman #55 6 years ago

    "@Stickman
    I don't think he is being sinister at all (unless there are deleted posts I have missed). I took his point as I believe he meant it, which is that if I die a non-believer and I turn out to be wrong, I'll probably be a bit gutted. So please don't go trying to put words in his mouth so you can attack his beliefs, that certainly wasn't something I was trying to start. "

    Um, OK. Do you actually have a sense of humour? Where do I attack his beliefs? If I was going to do that, it might have been around the 'no-one likes Jews' comment! What words exactly have I put in his mouth? Stop being so damn serious all the time. Make sure you understand something before you make some stupid 'holier-than-thou' statement next time.
    Edited by 2 at 13/01/06 @ 10:24

  • Lagto_Soa #56 6 years ago

    Condoleezza Rice's uncouth and thoughtless remarks can be compared to a sincere, albeit a totally unprofessional strip-show.

    Condoleezza Rice is not a woman; she is a function. No wonder she is still a Ms, not Mrs.

    Ms. Rice looks good for her profession indeed, but she has already celebrated her 50th birthday. Lonely women usually become resentful and unrestrained at this age.

    "Condoleezza Rice is a very cruel, offended woman who lacks men's attention. She needs to be taken to a company of soldiers and it would be just fine."

    Pravda is my new favourite website. I barely know anything about Condoleezza Rice, but this shit is hilarious.

  • LFace #57 6 years ago

    I love postal 2 and finished it and shock horror, I havent once thought about raiding a synagogue and killing up some folks, nor have I wanted to shovel someones head off and play fetch with a dog with it. And although I sometimes feel the need to have a piss when im out in public after a few jars, I dont ever once recall pissing on people in the street.

    Funny that.

    Dont see the relevance in this article associating that loon with a game. Just like all the rest. If some dimebar decides to perform acts of debauchery or go on a sociapathic killing spree, games are not the cause, its the idiot themself who are not right in the head. Theres been psychos all throughout history before videogames were invented, what can you blame back in them days... oh thats right, religion.... ban religion!

  • trevd72 #58 6 years ago

    Lets say I go crazy and start doing stuff that is more than slightly naughty and I blamed it all on bill and ben the flowerpot men. I walked around talking wibble wibble. Dressed like them, called my wife "weeeeeedd" and watched them 24/7. THey would just say I am crazy, nothing to do with bill and ben - they are just a symptom of my crazyness. So why can this guy not be labled as crazy, thats because it had the potential to create a news story.

    I will put this into real world context. For those of you who work ;0), at your place managers like to move things around, carryout audits, have meeting, have lean manufacturing projects, increase something, decrease something. this is all done to fill the day and show they are doing something to justify thier management status, its not real work its just stuff.

    THese news stories are the same. A reporter and a media outlet needs to look like they have stuff to report on. These days they can only make up so much (except the sunday sport), so these kind of fear inducing things are just what they need. Its not real its just knee-jerk reactionary crap that the middleclasses revel in to justify thier seperation from the rest of us. Same with that arsehole lawyer. He cant get real work so he feeds on the feeble minded/greedy parents who want to replace thier children with rolex watched and fast cars.

  • The-Bodybuilder #59 6 years ago

    >"So noone thought to check if he takes steroids then? If he's into Body Building and he suddenly just loses it, it would make sense would it not. Much more sense than blaming his violent actions on a computer game."

    Someone, somewhere in a forum saying how it's gaming fault, because the violence in games has desensitized him to murdering (now with science to back it up).
    To say this is out of ignorance, and yet you will be the first to moan when thompson blames games (out of ignorance as well).

    And why does everyone associate steroids with bodybuilding? It is possible to bodybuild without using steroids (like the 90% majority do).

    Oh the hypocrisy.
    But i'll stay away from this board, being a gamin, bodybuilding christian and all...

  • chromice #60 6 years ago

    @ Lagto_Soa
    If you only could imagine how much of this shit we have here ;-) Too bad little of it is translated into English. Not only coz this army of 'high-profile' journalists out there is so damn huge. It is, but having undergone translation the shit lose its original... hmm... smell and taste :-)

    And regarding the subject. In presence of his lawyer the guy said the main reason for starting this massacre was his desire to be killed there. The reason? You gotta live here to understand. There's not much to do for rednecks like him with little education, limited reasoning abilities, etc. In USSR they used to become pioneers, then members of the Komsomol faithful to the Party till their last breath and that made them feel they belong to something big... Now, when it's all gone, they find no better option but to join a nazi organization. In my opinion, it is still much better then taking drugs anyway :-/
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/06 @ 23:09