World

WATCH: Man dressed as Joker terrorises Tokyo train

Police arrested the suspected attacker on the spot, media reports

Reuters October 31, 2021

People escape through windows of a Tokyo train line following a knife, arson and acid attack, in Tokyo, Japan October 31, 2021 in this still image obtained from a social media video. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO:

A 24-year-old man dressed in Batman's Joker costume attacked passengers on a Tokyo train line on Sunday evening, injuring about 10 people as many party-goers headed into the city centre for Halloween gatherings, media reported.

Police arrested the suspected attacker on the spot, media reported. A man in his 60s was unconscious and in critical condition after being stabbed, while witnesses also said the attacker had spread fluid around the train and started a fire, according to media.

乗ってた電車で液体まいて人燃やした人がいて、電車急に止まってみんな窓から出て、やった人は逃げてるって……
国領駅 pic.twitter.com/9JzDE07xvH
— ayase(ʕ͡تʔぬん) (@III0305III) October 31, 2021

One video uploaded on Twitter and broadcast on NHK showed a steady stream of people running away from a train car where, seconds later, a small explosion caused a fire. Another video showed passengers rushing to squeeze out of the train's windows and onto the platform where the train had made an emergency stop.

Japon : Les autorités ont déclaré que l'incident s'était produit vers 20:00 locale dans 1 train sur la ligne Keio Railway qui circulait près de la gare de Kokuryo ville de Chofu dans l'ouest de Tokyo.

L'homme aurait également dispersé 1 liquide dans le wagon & l'aurait incendié. pic.twitter.com/GFn74c1yCq
— Rebecca Rambar (@RebeccaRambar) October 31, 2021

"I thought it was a Halloween stunt," one witness told the Yomiuri newspaper, recalling the moment he saw other passengers running in a panic towards his train car. "Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife." He said there was blood on the knife.

JUST IN - Man with knife sets a train in #Tokyo on fire, attacker detained; at least 15 injured.pic.twitter.com/Oz5cUEh055
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 31, 2021

The attack occurred on the Keio express line bound for Shinjuku, the world's busiest rail station, at around 8pm (1100 GMT), media said.

京王線火災で逃げる人々 pic.twitter.com/ZfN1pD0C2V
— しずくβ (@siz33) October 31, 2021

Partial service on the Keio line remained suspended late on Sunday, when Japanese voters went to the polls in a lower house election. TV footage showed scores of firefighters, police and emergency vehicles outside the station where the train had stopped.