Substance sprayed at Tokyo mall injures over 20
Quick Look
- Over 20 people were injured after a man sprayed an unknown substance near an ATM at the Ginza Six shopping complex in Tokyo.
- Victims reported throat pain and feeling unwell, with most symptoms described as mild.
- An investigation is underway.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
More than 20 people were injured at a luxury shopping complex in central Tokyo after a man sprayed a substance inside. The incident occurred near an ATM on the ground floor of the Ginza Six shopping complex. Victims reported mild symptoms such as throat pain.
More than 20 people have been injured at a luxury shopping complex in central Tokyo after a man sprayed a substance inside, police and fire department officials said.
The road in front of the shopping centre, located in the touristy and upmarket shopping district of Ginza, was blocked off following the incident.
The Tokyo Fire Department said people complained of suddenly developing throat pain and felt unwell near the Ginza Six shopping complex with more than 20 people taken to a hospital.
Their symptoms were believed to be mild, officials said.
Fire department and police officials said an investigation was underway.
Television footage showed fire trucks lining the street while firefighters and officials in hazmat suits assisted people, with some being brought out of the building.
Tokyo police spokesman Yusuke Koide said a man sprayed a substance at an ATM on the ground floor of the building.
One 70-year-old woman who was at the mall told Japan's public broadcaster NHK that her throat started "stinging and hurting" as she approached the ATM.
"By the time I arrived, the commotion had already started, and I thought there might have been a small fire or something.
"Once I went into the ATM corner, my throat felt scratchy, almost numb," she said.
Yuzo Tsuda, a 78-year-old Tokyo resident, told The Associated Press that he walked toward the shopping complex after having lunch with friends, when he suddenly felt pain in his throat and started coughing.
He said the ache in his throat subsided about an hour later and he did not plan to go to the hospital.
Violent crime is relatively rare in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the world's toughest gun laws.
But Japan remains shaken by the memory of a major subway attack in 1995 when members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas on trains, killing 14 people and making more than 5,800 ill.
Five members of the Aum cult dropped bags of Nazi-developed sarin nerve agent inside morning commuter trains on March 20, 1995, piercing the pouches with sharpened umbrella tips before fleeing.
Open Questions
- What was the substance sprayed?
- What was the motive of the perpetrator?
- Was the perpetrator apprehended?
- Are there any security camera recordings of the incident?
