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16 People, Including 13 Children, Stabbed in Japan Knife Attack One Schoolgirl Dead and 12 More Injured in Japan Knife Attack
(32 minutes later)
KAWASAKI, Japan — At least 16 people, including 13 elementary schoolchildren, were stabbed on Tuesday morning while waiting at a bus stop in a suburb southwest of Tokyo, according to the police. One of the schoolchildren and the attacker died in the attack. KAWASAKI, Japan — At least 16 people, including 13 elementary schoolchildren, were stabbed on Tuesday morning while waiting at a bus stop in a suburb southwest of Tokyo, according to the police. One of the schoolchildren died in the attack. The attacker also died, apparently of a self-inflicted injury.
NHK, the public broadcaster, reported that all the children were girls between the ages of 6 and 7. NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, reported that all the children were girls between the ages of 6 and 7.
After carrying out the attack, the suspect, described as a man in his 40s or 50s, stabbed himself in the neck and subsequently died, officials told NHK. The attack took place in Noborito-Shinmachi town in Kawasaki City.After carrying out the attack, the suspect, described as a man in his 40s or 50s, stabbed himself in the neck and subsequently died, officials told NHK. The attack took place in Noborito-Shinmachi town in Kawasaki City.
The attack took place as the schoolchildren were at the bus stop headed to a local girls school, witnesses said.
Toshichika Ishii, 57, was sitting on a park bench near where the attack took place when he heard a child scream, “I’m scared,” and heard the attacker shouting in Japanese, “I’m going to kill you!”Toshichika Ishii, 57, was sitting on a park bench near where the attack took place when he heard a child scream, “I’m scared,” and heard the attacker shouting in Japanese, “I’m going to kill you!”
The attack took place as the children were at the bus stop waiting for a ride to Caritas, a local Catholic school, witnesses said.
Caritas is a private institution run by Canadian missionaries, the only Catholic school in Kawasaki. It was founded in 1961 as a junior and senior high school. In 1963, it added elementary classes. In 2017, the school had 648 students and 51 teachers.
After the attack, a steady stream of children were escorted away from Caritas by their parents, who had been told by school officials not to talk to reporters.
One father, who had come to pick up his second-grade daughter, said his wife had seen news of the stabbing on television, and he had received a message from the school on Line, a Japanese messaging service, asking parents to pick up their children.
“There was no reason given,” said the father, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I just received a standardized alert asking us to pick up our children.”
He said his daughter regularly rode the bus that was scheduled to stop at the site of the attack on Tuesday.
Violent crimes, particularly mass killings, are rare in Japan. Three years ago, a former employee of a center for people with disabilities rampaged through the facility in Sagamihara, leaving 19 people dead in the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II.Violent crimes, particularly mass killings, are rare in Japan. Three years ago, a former employee of a center for people with disabilities rampaged through the facility in Sagamihara, leaving 19 people dead in the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II.
Tuesday’s attack occurred on the last day of President Trump’s visit to Japan. He was visiting a Japanese military ship to greet American troops along with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.Tuesday’s attack occurred on the last day of President Trump’s visit to Japan. He was visiting a Japanese military ship to greet American troops along with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.