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Japan explosions: Pensioner suicide bomber behind deadly park blast | Japan explosions: Pensioner suicide bomber behind deadly park blast |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 72-year-old retired soldier blew himself up in a park in Japan, killing himself and injuring three others, according to local state media reports. | A 72-year-old retired soldier blew himself up in a park in Japan, killing himself and injuring three others, according to local state media reports. |
The first explosion occured in a park in Utsunomiya, 60 miles north of Tokyo, shortly after 11:30am (2:30am GMT). | The first explosion occured in a park in Utsunomiya, 60 miles north of Tokyo, shortly after 11:30am (2:30am GMT). |
Kyodo News service reported a burned body was found in the park after police received a call saying a person was engulfed in flames following sounds of an explosion. | Kyodo News service reported a burned body was found in the park after police received a call saying a person was engulfed in flames following sounds of an explosion. |
A parked car exploded in a nearby car park, burning down two other vehicles. Flames and smoke shot into the air and repeated bangs could be heard on video posted on the Asahi newspaper website. | |
The man's home, which is 8km (5 miles) from the park, was destroyed in a fire shortly before the blasts. | |
The explosion injured two men, aged 64 and 58, who were being treated for shrapnel wounds. A 14-year-old boy was also injured. | The explosion injured two men, aged 64 and 58, who were being treated for shrapnel wounds. A 14-year-old boy was also injured. |
Police said they discovered a suicide note by the man and were investigating the three incidents. | |
The explosion happened near a bench at the edge of the park, where a folk art festival was underway. The festival has now been cancelled. | |
Suicide rates have declined in Japan in recent years, but remain among the highest in the world, with around 30,000 people a year taking their own lives. | |
Experts have pointed to the financial stress of surviving on small pensions for pushing some retired people to end their lives. | |
In 2015, a 71 year-old man set himself on fire on a bullet train in an incident that also claimed the life of a 52 year-old woman traveling in the same carriage. | |
Additional reporting by Reuters |