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MISHIMA, Japan – A man has been apprehended following a violent incident at a Yokohama Rubber Co. tire factory in central Japan, where eight individuals were stabbed and seven others sustained injuries from what is believed to be bleach. The motive behind the assault remains unclear.
Authorities report that eight people were transported to hospitals after being stabbed with a knife at the Mishima plant, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo. The Fujisan Nanto Fire Department indicated that five of the stabbing victims are in serious condition, though all were conscious during transport.
The Shizuoka prefectural police confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. While specific details were not immediately released, Kyodo news agency, citing investigative sources, reported that the attacker is believed to be a former employee of the factory.
According to the major Japanese newspaper Asahi, investigators noted the suspect was allegedly carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask during the attack.
In addition to the stabbings, seven other individuals were injured by bleach thrown at them, requiring hospital treatment, the fire department stated.
This incident marks another in a series of high-profile knife attacks in Japan, a nation recognized for its stringent gun control laws and low rates of violent crime.