Stabbing and chemical liquid attack in Japan tire factory injures 15
A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tire factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. There was no immediate explanation of his motive.
Eight people were taken to hospitals after being stabbed by the man with a knife at the Yokohama Rubber Company in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department.
The department told The Associated Press five of the people stabbed were in serious condition but other details weren't available.
Seven others were injured by the liquid thrown at them during the attack and brought to hospitals, the fire department said.
Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory.
The Asahi Shimbun daily newspaper quoted investigative sources as saying that the man had ties to the factory. The paper and Japanese broadcaster NHK reported he was wearing what appeared to be a gas mask and was armed with what a survival knife.
Violent crime is relatively rare in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the world's toughest gun laws.