Fifteen individuals were injured today in an attack at a factory in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. First responders report the assailant used both a knife and an unidentified liquid substance during the incident.
According to civil defense officials, all fifteen victims have been transported to local hospitals for treatment. Among the injured, five are reported to be in need of urgent medical attention. The extent of their injuries remains unspecified at this time.
Initial reports indicate that eight people sustained stab wounds, while seven others were affected by a liquid believed to be a type of bleach, according to local media outlets. Authorities dispatched seventeen vehicles to the scene, including eleven ambulances, to provide emergency assistance.
Aerial footage showed a significant presence of rescue and fire personnel around the factory, which belongs to Yokohama Rubber, a company specializing in the production of bus tires.
Japanese media outlets are reporting that a man has been taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack. The suspect’s identity and motives remain under investigation.
Violent crime is relatively rare in Japan, a nation known for its low homicide rate and strict gun control laws. However, incidents involving knives and, less frequently, firearms do occur. Notable past events include the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 and the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, which resulted in 14 fatalities and thousands of injuries.
