This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48428695

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Japan attack: Child among three dead in Kawasaki stabbing Japan attack: Child among three dead in Kawasaki stabbing
(about 2 hours later)
A group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus have been attacked by a knife-wielding man in a Japanese city just south of Tokyo. A knife-wielding man has attacked a group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus in a Japanese city near Tokyo.
At least 18 people were injured on a residential street in Kawasaki. Two of them, a 12-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man, are dead.At least 18 people were injured on a residential street in Kawasaki. Two of them, a 12-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man, are dead.
A suspect, a man in his 50s, reportedly stabbed himself in the neck and was later detained. He has now also died from his injuries. A suspect, a man in his 50s, stabbed himself in the neck after his rampage and later died in hospital.
The motive for the attack is unknown. Violent crime is rare in Japan and the motive for the attack is unknown.
Sixteen of those injured are said to be schoolgirls, according to news site Kyodo. The suspect was holding knives in both hands as he attacked the victims - sixteen of whom were schoolgirls.
Police responding to the incident recovered two knives at the scene, said NHK. Local media outlets say the 39-year-old victim is believed to be the parent of one of the children.
A spokesman for the Kawasaki Fire Department told AFP news agency that an emergency call was received at 07:44 local time on Tuesday (22:44 GMT Monday) stating that a number of schoolchildren had been stabbed. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the attack, saying he felt "strong anger" against it.
A school bus driver told NHK that he had seen the suspect approach a queue of students who were reportedly waiting to board their bus to the nearby Caritas private school in a residential area in Kawasaki. "It is a very harrowing case. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims and hope the injured recover quickly," Mr Abe said.
The suspect began stabbing the children and then boarded the bus and stabbed children inside as well, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo reports. How did the incident unfold?
A male eyewitness told NHK: "I saw a man lying near a bus stop bleeding." The incident took place just before 08:00 local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT Monday) near a local park and a train station.
"I also saw elementary schoolchildren lying on the ground... It's a quiet neighbourhood, it's scary to see this kind of thing happen," he added. A number of students were waiting to board their bus to the nearby Caritas elementary school, a private Catholic school.
The deceased man sustained four neck wounds, according to local reports. The driver of the Caritas school bus told NHK that he saw a man approach the queue of students.
Footage broadcast on local news stations showed emergency services arriving at the scene - near the Noborito First Park - and setting up medical tents to treat the wounded. He began stabbing the children and then boarded the bus and stabbed children inside as well, according to the BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes.
US President Donald Trump, who is in Japan on a state visit, offered his "prayers and sympathy" to the victims. News outlet Kyodo said the man was heard shouting "I'm going to kill you" during the attack.
Japan has one of the world's lowest rates of violent crime but in recent years has experienced a handful of attacks involving knives. He was apprehended by police and later died in hospital from injuries.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and set up medical tents to treat the wounded.
Locals have now begun placing flowers outside the site of the attack in a tribute to the victims.
US President Donald Trump, who was in Japan on the last day of a state visit, also offered his "prayers and sympathy" to the victims.
How common are such incidents in Japan?
They are extremely rare and Japan has one of the world's lowest rates of violent crime.
"Around my neighbourhood it's very common to see children as young as four walking to school by themselves, that is normal practice in Japan because it's so safe," our correspondent says.
However, there has been in recent years a handful of attacks involving knives.
In 2016, 19 people at a care centre for people with mental disabilities were stabbed by a former worker. He reportedly said he wanted those with disabilities to "disappear".In 2016, 19 people at a care centre for people with mental disabilities were stabbed by a former worker. He reportedly said he wanted those with disabilities to "disappear".
Eight students were killed in a 2001 attack after a man entered an elementary school in Osaka and began stabbing students.Eight students were killed in a 2001 attack after a man entered an elementary school in Osaka and began stabbing students.