Approximately 20 people were injured at a luxury shopping center in central Tokyo on Monday after an individual sprayed a substance inside the building. This information was reported by police and fire department officials.
Incident Details
Yusuke Koide, a spokesman for Tokyo police, informed the French news agency AFP that the event took place at an ATM on the ground floor of the building. A fire department official reported that there were ‘around 20 people injured’ following the incident, which involved a ‘smell’ spreading inside the complex.
The road in front of the mall, situated in the upscale and tourist-friendly Ginza district, was immediately closed off. Fire trucks quickly arrived at the scene, and firefighters navigated through police tape to gain access to the Ginza 6 Shopping Center entrance.
Despite the situation, shoppers continued to exit and enter the building using side entrances. A reporter from AFP witnessed two individuals being placed on stretchers into an ambulance. Firefighters and officials wearing hazmat suits guided people from the mall into specialized trucks for examination.
Reaction and Investigation
Public broadcaster NHK mentioned that the injuries reported were minor. A 70-year-old woman at the mall shared her experience, noting her throat began to sting and hurt near the ATM. She initially thought a small fire might have occurred due to the commotion. When she reached the ATM corner, she described her throat as feeling scratchy and almost numb.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident, as stated by a fire department officer present at the scene.
Context
Japan is known for having low rates of violent crime, a low murder rate, and strict gun laws. However, the country does experience occasional stabbings and shootings. Notably, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in 2022, with his killer sentenced to life imprisonment in January of this year.
In another incident last December, 14 people were injured in a factory stabbing attack involving an unspecified liquid.
Japan still recalls the traumatic subway attack from the 1990s when the Aum Shinrikyo cult released toxic gas. On March 20, 1995, five cult members released Nazi-developed sarin nerve agent in commuter trains, resulting in 14 deaths and over 5,800 affected individuals.