Eleven injured, 7 dead in Akihabara massacre
[Tokyo, Japan] Sunday, June 8, 2008—At about 12:30 p.m. JST, a man attacked a crowd with his vehicle, then stabbed at least 18 using a survival knife, killing seven people.
Police have arrested a suspect, identified as Tomohiro Katō (加藤智大 Katō Tomohiro), who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Kato, 25, is a resident of Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. He was being held at the Manseibashi Police Station in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
Reports say a two-ton Isuzu Elf rental truck struck a crowd in a crossing of a road closed to vehicular traffic (Chūō-dōri) and a cross street (Kanda Myōjin-dōri) open to traffic. They state that multiple witnesses reported the truck came to a stop after traveling 30 m; a man then left the truck and started stabbing passersby.
The stabbings occurred exactly seven years after the Osaka school massacre, where eight elementary school students were killed. Similar to the perpetrator of that crime, Katō has been quoted as saying that he was "tired of the world" and that he came to "kill people".
According to police and hospital officials, six of the seven who died were males and aged 19, 20, 29, 33, 47 and 74. The other was a 21-year-old female. A makeshift memorial has been created by passersby.
Sources
- "At least seven killed in Tokyo stabbing spree". CNN, 2008-06-08
- David Dolan "Man stabs shoppers in Tokyo street, killing seven". Reuters, 2008-06-08
- "Stabbing rampage in Akihabara leaves at least 6 dead". Asahi Shinbun, 2008-06-08
- "7 killed, 10 injured in stabbing rampage in Akihabara". Japan Today, 2008-06-08
- Wikinews
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