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Japan knife attack: 19 killed at care centre in Sagamihara Japan knife attack: 19 killed at care centre in Sagamihara
(about 2 hours later)
Nineteen residents have been killed in a knife attack at a care centre for people with mental disabilities in the Japanese city of Sagamihara.Nineteen residents have been killed in a knife attack at a care centre for people with mental disabilities in the Japanese city of Sagamihara.
Such attacks are extremely rare in Japan - the incident is the worst mass killing in decades.Such attacks are extremely rare in Japan - the incident is the worst mass killing in decades.
Police have arrested a local man, said to be a former employee of the centre, who went to a nearby police station and allegedly admitted to the attack. Police have arrested a man who worked at the centre until February, and who turned himself into police after the attack.
He reportedly said he wanted people with disabilities to "disappear".He reportedly said he wanted people with disabilities to "disappear".
The attack has shocked Japan, one of the safest countries in the world. The brutal killings have shocked Japan, one of the safest countries in the world.
Who was Japanese knife attacker?Who was Japanese knife attacker?
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it was "a very heart-wrenching and shocking incident in which many innocent people became victims".Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it was "a very heart-wrenching and shocking incident in which many innocent people became victims".
Letter to politiciansLetter to politicians
The suspect was named in local media as 26-year-old Satoshi Uematsu. The suspect has been named as 26-year-old Satoshi Uematsu.
Local police have said he sent a handwritten letter to politicians in February in which he threatened to kill hundreds of disabled people. He was kept in hospital for almost two weeks before being released. He sent letters to politicians in February in which he threatened to kill hundreds of disabled people during a night shift, Kyodo news agency reports.
Staff at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en facility, in a suburban area of Kanagawa prefecture about 50km (31 miles) from Tokyo, called police at 02:30 local time (17:30 GMT) to report a man with a knife inside the building. "My goal is a world in which the severely disabled can be euthanised, with their guardians' consent, if they are unable to live at home and be active in society," Uematsu wrote in a letter to the speaker of the lower house of parliament, obtained by Kyodo.
Local media reports say the suspect broke a window to get inside and then began stabbing people. He was kept in hospital for almost two weeks before being released.
One local resident, Chikara Inabayashi 68, told AFP he had been woken by the sound of sirens at about 03:00. The governor of Kanagawa prefecture, Yuji Koroiwa, has apologised for not acting on warning signs.
How the attack unfolded
Uematsu drove to the Tsukui Yamayuri-en care facility, located about 50km (31 miles) from Tokyo, in the early hours of the morning, armed with several knives.
He entered the building by breaking a window at 02:10 local time (17:10 GMT), a prefectural health official said, and began attacking residents by slashing their throats.
Staff called police around 20 minutes later to report what was happening.
The stabbing rampage lasted around 40 minutes, the Associated Press news agency reports. Uematsu's 19 victims were aged between 19 and 70, Kyodo said, citing the Sagamihara City fire department.
Another 25 people were wounded, 20 seriously. Both men and women were reported to be among the dead.
Soon after the attack, Uematsu turned himself in at the Tsukui police station and reportedly admitted the attack, appearing to have driven himself there.
Pictures have emerged of the steering wheel of his car, stained with blood.
"When Uematsu turned himself in, he was found carrying kitchen knives and other types of knives stained with blood," a Kanagawa official told reporters.
One local resident, Chikara Inabayashi, 68, told AFP he had been woken by the sound of sirens at about 03:00.
"I was astonished, that's the only thing I can say.''"I was astonished, that's the only thing I can say.''
The facility, set in extensive grounds, had about 150 residents at the time of the attack, according to local officials. Eight staff members were on duty at the time.The facility, set in extensive grounds, had about 150 residents at the time of the attack, according to local officials. Eight staff members were on duty at the time.
The victims were aged between 19 and 70, the Kyodo news agency, said citing the Sagamihara City Fire Department. Another 25 people were injured, 20 seriously. Both men and women were reported to be among the dead. One doctor told NHK: "The patients are very shocked and they cannot speak now."
One doctor told NHK: "The patients are very shocked mentally, and they cannot speak now."
It appears that the attacker then left the facility himself, and drove to the Tsukui police station where he turned himself in.
Pictures have emerged of what is reported to be the steering wheel of his car, stained with blood.
"When Uematsu turned himself in, he was found carrying kitchen knives and other types of knives stained with blood," a Kanagawa official told reporters.
One woman who said she used to work at Tsukui Yamayuri-en told local media: "They are truly innocent people. What did they do?"One woman who said she used to work at Tsukui Yamayuri-en told local media: "They are truly innocent people. What did they do?"
Officials have ruled out any link to terrorism.Officials have ruled out any link to terrorism.
Mass killings are extremely rare in Japan, in part because strict gun control laws means almost no-one has access to a firearm.Mass killings are extremely rare in Japan, in part because strict gun control laws means almost no-one has access to a firearm.
Are you in the Japanese city of Sagamihara? Have you been affected by this incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the Japanese city of Sagamihara? Have you been affected by this incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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