Japan: Knife attack near Tokyo kills one May 13

Event

Security forces apprehended a man on Sunday evening (local time), May 13, in Chiba - located near capital Tokyo - after he stabbed a family of four (two adults and two young kids) in a restaurant, killing the oldest child and injuring the other three family members. A police investigation is ongoing to determine whether the attack was premeditated. At present, the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.

Context

A few knife attacks have been carried out in the greater Tokyo area over the past few years. In July 2016, 20 people were killed in a stabbing spree at a facility for disabled people west of Tokyo. In December 2017, two people were killed in a knife attack at a Tokyo shrine.

Advice

Despite the fact that crime levels are low in Japan, individuals are advised to maintain a similar level of vigilance as they would at home.