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One Schoolgirl Dead and 12 More Injured in Japan Knife Attack One Schoolgirl Dead and 15 More Injured in Japan Knife Attack
(about 2 hours later)
KAWASAKI, Japan — A man stabbed at least 16 people, including 13 schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop, before fatally stabbing himself Tuesday morning, according to the police. One of the schoolchildren died in the attack, in a suburb southwest of Tokyo. KAWASAKI, Japan — A man stabbed at least 18 people, including 16 schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop, before fatally stabbing himself Tuesday morning, according to the police. One of the schoolchildren died in the attack, in a suburb southwest of Tokyo.
NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, reported that all the children were girls.NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, reported that all the children were girls.
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 man, described as being in his 50s, stabbed himself in the neck and subsequently died, officials told NHK. The attack took place in Noborito-Shinmachi town in Kawasaki City.
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. The attack took place as the children were at the bus stop waiting to take a school bus 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.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.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.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.”“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.He said his daughter regularly rode the bus that was scheduled to stop at the site of the attack on Tuesday.
Hiroaki Takamatsu, secretary general of Caritas elementary school, told reporters that the school will hold a meeting for parents and a news conference on Tuesday.Hiroaki Takamatsu, secretary general of Caritas elementary school, told reporters that the school will hold a meeting for parents and a news conference on Tuesday.
“We don’t know details yet,” he said of the attack. “But with one death, I don’t have any words to say.”“We don’t know details yet,” he said of the attack. “But with one death, I don’t have any words to say.”
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 and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were visiting a Japanese military ship and greeting American troops as news emerged about the Kawasaki attack. The attack shattered the calm of the neighborhood just as the workday was beginning.
Akino Kawato, 89, had just come out of her home to collect the newspaper down the street from the bus stop when she saw a man lying on his side steps from her door, apparently bleeding and unconscious. She also saw an injured young mother, along with her son, as she staggered into the parking lot of a nearby FamilyMart convenience store. She was quickly surrounded by passers-by who told her to “hang on.”
While the victims waited for ambulances, three doctors from a family clinic rushed out to help them, Ms. Kawato said.
Hideharu Nakajima, 79, was awakened around 7:45 a.m. by the panicked sounds of young girls screaming. Outside, he saw groups of girls huddled in fear and ambulances pulling up, and one man down on the ground across the street from his house, where a doctor was administering CPR.
He also saw another man, bald and lying on the ground in a pool of blood close to the bus stop. The police were referring to this man as “the suspect.” Paramedics moved him onto a stretcher and he appeared to be conscious at the time.
Tuesday’s attack occurred on the last day of President Trump’s visit to Japan. He and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were visiting a Japanese military ship and greeting American troops as news emerged about the Kawasaki attack, which he addressed in remarks on the ship.
“On behalf of the first lady and myself, I want to take a moment to send our prayers and sympathies to the victims of the stabbing attack this morning in Tokyo,” he said. “All Americans stand with the people of Japan and grieve for the victims and for their families.”