Search for suspect after Nagano knife attack leaves one dead

A man in his 40s was killed in a knife attack outside JR Nagano Station. The incident happened at around 8pm on Wednesday. The suspect appeared to be about 40 years old, public broadcaster NHK reportedhe aimed the knife at three people – a woman and two men – before fleeing the scene. They were waiting at the bus turntable on the north side of the station when the assailant attacked. One of the victims was stabbed in the abdomen, Cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital.

Nagano knife attack suspect fled with weapon

Another man in his 30s was stabbed in the right back and was seriously injured. He is still conscious. Another target of the attack was a woman in her 40s. NHK reported that she was uninjured except for minor injuries when she fell. According to investigators, the attacker was of slim build and about 170 centimeters tall. He reportedly fled the scene still armed. Police are looking for the suspect on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, who they believe was a random attack because he had no previous contact with the victim.

Knife crime in Japan

While violent crime is rare in Japan, there have been a number of high-profile knife incidents in recent years. Masanori Hirabaru, 43, was arrested last month after stabbing two junior high school students at a McDonald’s in Kitakyushu. Saaya Nakajima, a third-year junior high school student, was killed in the attack. Her male classmate was seriously injured. Hirabaru was originally arrested on December 19 on suspicion of attempted murder of a male student, and a new arrest warrant was issued for stabbing Nakajima earlier this month. The suspect claimed he did not intend to kill anyone.

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