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| Knife Attacker Wanted to Rid Japan of the Disabled, Authorities Say | Knife Attacker Wanted to Rid Japan of the Disabled, Authorities Say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SAGAMIHARA, Japan — A former employee at a center for people with mental and physical illnesses who had expressed extreme views about euthanizing the disabled returned to the facility outside Tokyo early Tuesday carrying a bag of knives. | SAGAMIHARA, Japan — A former employee at a center for people with mental and physical illnesses who had expressed extreme views about euthanizing the disabled returned to the facility outside Tokyo early Tuesday carrying a bag of knives. |
| Around 2:20 a.m., according to the police and local officials, he smashed a first-floor window with a hammer, tied up some of the overnight staff members and methodically slit the throats of patients as they slept. | Around 2:20 a.m., according to the police and local officials, he smashed a first-floor window with a hammer, tied up some of the overnight staff members and methodically slit the throats of patients as they slept. |
| When he left the building 30 minutes later, nine men and 10 women were dead in the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II. The dead ranged in age from 19 to 70. Twenty-six people were wounded, 13 of them critically. | When he left the building 30 minutes later, nine men and 10 women were dead in the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II. The dead ranged in age from 19 to 70. Twenty-six people were wounded, 13 of them critically. |
| The suspect, Satoshi Uematsu, 26, calmly turned himself in at a nearby police station a half-hour later, telling the authorities, “All the handicapped should disappear.” | The suspect, Satoshi Uematsu, 26, calmly turned himself in at a nearby police station a half-hour later, telling the authorities, “All the handicapped should disappear.” |
| He was charged with attempted murder. Additional charges were expected. | He was charged with attempted murder. Additional charges were expected. |
| Many pieces of the puzzle were still missing Tuesday night as the police had cordoned off the center, Tsukui Yamayuri-en, and blocked access to witnesses and victims’ relatives. But the details that emerged began to sketch a portrait of a deeply disturbed young man with violent ideas about ridding the world of disabled people and a grudge against his former employer. | Many pieces of the puzzle were still missing Tuesday night as the police had cordoned off the center, Tsukui Yamayuri-en, and blocked access to witnesses and victims’ relatives. But the details that emerged began to sketch a portrait of a deeply disturbed young man with violent ideas about ridding the world of disabled people and a grudge against his former employer. |
| The killings shocked Japan, where violent crimes are rare and guns are strictly regulated and few civilians own them. Until now, the biggest mass killing here in the postwar period was a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, which killed 13. | The killings shocked Japan, where violent crimes are rare and guns are strictly regulated and few civilians own them. Until now, the biggest mass killing here in the postwar period was a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, which killed 13. |
| “I have no words to express my feelings,” said Yuji Kuroiwa, the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, where the assault took place. “It is an unforgivable crime.” | “I have no words to express my feelings,” said Yuji Kuroiwa, the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, where the assault took place. “It is an unforgivable crime.” |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a statement, offered his “heartfelt condolences” and promised that “the government will make every effort” to determine what happened. | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a statement, offered his “heartfelt condolences” and promised that “the government will make every effort” to determine what happened. |
| Mr. Uematsu had worked for four years as a caregiver at the center, a residential facility in the Tanzawa Mountains about 40 miles west of Tokyo. The center has 149 long-term residents who receive assistance with eating, bathing and the arts. | Mr. Uematsu had worked for four years as a caregiver at the center, a residential facility in the Tanzawa Mountains about 40 miles west of Tokyo. The center has 149 long-term residents who receive assistance with eating, bathing and the arts. |
| It was unclear when Mr. Uematsu developed his ideas about disabled people, but there were several disturbing episodes in February. | It was unclear when Mr. Uematsu developed his ideas about disabled people, but there were several disturbing episodes in February. |
| A Twitter account that appeared to belong to Mr. Uematsu had followed several right-wing accounts as well as girls and soccer players. After a break of three and a half months, he resumed making posts, and the messages turned dark. He said that Japan was being destroyed by AIDS and radiation poisoning, and he discussed the possibility of leaving his job and being arrested. | A Twitter account that appeared to belong to Mr. Uematsu had followed several right-wing accounts as well as girls and soccer players. After a break of three and a half months, he resumed making posts, and the messages turned dark. He said that Japan was being destroyed by AIDS and radiation poisoning, and he discussed the possibility of leaving his job and being arrested. |
| According to NHK, the national public broadcaster, on Feb. 15, he delivered a letter to the residence of the speaker of the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo threatening to kill hundreds of disabled people “for the sake of Japan” and urging legal changes that would allow the severely disabled to be euthanized. | According to NHK, the national public broadcaster, on Feb. 15, he delivered a letter to the residence of the speaker of the lower house of Parliament in Tokyo threatening to kill hundreds of disabled people “for the sake of Japan” and urging legal changes that would allow the severely disabled to be euthanized. |
| “My aim is a world where people with multiple disabilities who have extreme difficulty living at home or being active in society can be euthanized with the consent of their guardians,” the letter said, according to the report. | “My aim is a world where people with multiple disabilities who have extreme difficulty living at home or being active in society can be euthanized with the consent of their guardians,” the letter said, according to the report. |
| The Tokyo police notified their counterparts in the Sagamihara area about the letter that same day, NHK said. | The Tokyo police notified their counterparts in the Sagamihara area about the letter that same day, NHK said. |
| When he learned about the letter, the director of the center, Katsuhiko Yoneyama, had a talk with Mr. Uematsu. | When he learned about the letter, the director of the center, Katsuhiko Yoneyama, had a talk with Mr. Uematsu. |
| “I told him that this place is for the welfare and happiness of the disabled,” Mr. Yoneyama said in remarks outside the center on Tuesday afternoon. He said that he told Mr. Uematsu, “You are not an appropriate person to work here,” and Mr. Uematsu voluntarily agreed to quit. | “I told him that this place is for the welfare and happiness of the disabled,” Mr. Yoneyama said in remarks outside the center on Tuesday afternoon. He said that he told Mr. Uematsu, “You are not an appropriate person to work here,” and Mr. Uematsu voluntarily agreed to quit. |
| The next day, the local authorities committed Mr. Uematsu to a psychiatric hospital. | |
| Marijuana was detected in his urine, and two doctors there issued a diagnosis of marijuana-induced psychosis and a delusional disorder. But on March 2, NHK reported, the symptoms disappeared, and doctors concluded that he was not a danger to others. | Marijuana was detected in his urine, and two doctors there issued a diagnosis of marijuana-induced psychosis and a delusional disorder. But on March 2, NHK reported, the symptoms disappeared, and doctors concluded that he was not a danger to others. |
| Mr. Uematsu lived not far from the center in a large, cream-colored concrete house on a hill with some overgrown weeds on a ledge outside. He had lived with his parents until they moved away about five years ago, neighbors said. A pile of trash inside the home was visible through one window, and a garden shed next to the house was half open. | Mr. Uematsu lived not far from the center in a large, cream-colored concrete house on a hill with some overgrown weeds on a ledge outside. He had lived with his parents until they moved away about five years ago, neighbors said. A pile of trash inside the home was visible through one window, and a garden shed next to the house was half open. |
| Neighbors described him as quiet and gentle. | Neighbors described him as quiet and gentle. |
| “I never imagined he was the kind of guy who would commit such a crime,” said Mitsuo Kishi, 76. | “I never imagined he was the kind of guy who would commit such a crime,” said Mitsuo Kishi, 76. |
| Akihiro Hasegawa, 73, who lives next door, said he was quiet and friendly. Mr. Hasegawa recently saw Mr. Uematsu shirtless outside the house, taking in the sun, and observed tattoos on his chest and back, which are uncommon in Japan and often perceived as a sign of belonging to a gang. Mr. Hasegawa noted one other idiosyncrasy: Mr. Uematsu occasionally pulled into his driveway and rammed the front of his car into a cement wall. | Akihiro Hasegawa, 73, who lives next door, said he was quiet and friendly. Mr. Hasegawa recently saw Mr. Uematsu shirtless outside the house, taking in the sun, and observed tattoos on his chest and back, which are uncommon in Japan and often perceived as a sign of belonging to a gang. Mr. Hasegawa noted one other idiosyncrasy: Mr. Uematsu occasionally pulled into his driveway and rammed the front of his car into a cement wall. |
| Mr. Uematsu had studied at a university to be a teacher, and in 2011, he was a student teacher for third graders at Chigira Elementary School, which he attended as a child. | Mr. Uematsu had studied at a university to be a teacher, and in 2011, he was a student teacher for third graders at Chigira Elementary School, which he attended as a child. |
| Akiyo Numasawa, the vice principal of the public school, said that Mr. Uematsu was “very gentle” and that it had seen no signs of mental illness or trouble. | Akiyo Numasawa, the vice principal of the public school, said that Mr. Uematsu was “very gentle” and that it had seen no signs of mental illness or trouble. |
| But local news reports on Tuesday said that Mr. Uematsu had told friends that he planned to kill as many as 600 disabled people by October and that he would start with the center where he had worked. | But local news reports on Tuesday said that Mr. Uematsu had told friends that he planned to kill as many as 600 disabled people by October and that he would start with the center where he had worked. |
| At 1:37 a.m., surveillance cameras at a house near the facility captured images of a black car arriving at high speed, NHK reported. A man, in a short-sleeve shirt, trousers and a baseball hat, emerged from the driver’s seat and opened his trunk to take out a few large bags. | At 1:37 a.m., surveillance cameras at a house near the facility captured images of a black car arriving at high speed, NHK reported. A man, in a short-sleeve shirt, trousers and a baseball hat, emerged from the driver’s seat and opened his trunk to take out a few large bags. |
| According to NTV, a private broadcaster, a police investigator told reporters that during the attacks early Tuesday, staff members tried to stop Mr. Uematsu, but he tied them up with plastic bindings. | |
| A little after 2:50 a.m., he ran back to the car and drove away. | A little after 2:50 a.m., he ran back to the car and drove away. |
| That report also quoted the police as saying that Mr. Uematsu had told them, “Without a doubt, I stabbed them with knives.” He was also said to have told the police that “I held some grudges after being forced to resign.” | That report also quoted the police as saying that Mr. Uematsu had told them, “Without a doubt, I stabbed them with knives.” He was also said to have told the police that “I held some grudges after being forced to resign.” |
| As of Tuesday afternoon, the bodies of the dead were still inside the center, where the police were investigating. | As of Tuesday afternoon, the bodies of the dead were still inside the center, where the police were investigating. |
| Outside the police station in Sagamihara, a popular summer destination for hikers and campers, a black car sat in the parking lot, covered in a blue tarp. The local news media had reported that it was the car Mr. Uematsu drove to the station. Broadcast video showed a bloody steering wheel and plastic ties scattered on a seat. | Outside the police station in Sagamihara, a popular summer destination for hikers and campers, a black car sat in the parking lot, covered in a blue tarp. The local news media had reported that it was the car Mr. Uematsu drove to the station. Broadcast video showed a bloody steering wheel and plastic ties scattered on a seat. |
| The back bumper was broken and bore an English-language sticker that read: “I’m not driving too slow. You’re speeding.” | The back bumper was broken and bore an English-language sticker that read: “I’m not driving too slow. You’re speeding.” |
| Officers outside the station would not confirm that it was Mr. Uematsu’s car. | Officers outside the station would not confirm that it was Mr. Uematsu’s car. |
| After the attack and before he drove to the police station, Mr. Uematsu appeared to have posted again on Twitter. The post, which included a photograph of himself in a suit and red tie, read, “May the world be peaceful,” and, in English, “Beautiful Japan!” | After the attack and before he drove to the police station, Mr. Uematsu appeared to have posted again on Twitter. The post, which included a photograph of himself in a suit and red tie, read, “May the world be peaceful,” and, in English, “Beautiful Japan!” |