One woman dead, three injured in Japan stabbing spree

The suspect, identified as Nobuyuki Matsuhashi aged 33, attacked victims with a knife near entrance of a shopping mall


Afp June 21, 2016
The suspect, identified as Nobuyuki Matsuhashi aged 33, attacked victims with a knife near entrance of a shopping mall. STOCK IMAGE

TOKYO: A man was arrested in northern Japan on Tuesday after stabbing one woman to death and injuring three others at a shopping mall, a rare random attack for the law-abiding nation.

The suspect, identified as Nobuyuki Matsuhashi aged 33, attacked the victims with a knife Tuesday afternoon near the entrance of the shopping mall in the city of Kushiro on the island of Hokkaido, a police spokesperson said.

A 68-year-old local woman was killed and three other women were injured in the attack, police said, adding that Matsuhashi was quickly caught by security guards.

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The suspect has been treated in hospital for mental illness, the spokesperson said, adding that further details were not available.

Jiji Press reported that Matsuhashi told police: "I wanted to end my life. I wanted to be executed for murder."

Japan has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the developed world, and random attacks involving weapons of any kind are unusual.

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