“Fatal Shooting and Stabbing Attack in Japan Leaves Three Dead, including Two Police Officers”

Jakarta –

A woman and two male police officers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack on a farm in Japan midday on Thursday, local time. The perpetrator is believed to be a 30-year-old farmer.

Reported by AFP (Friday (26/5/2023) the perpetrator also injured one other person. Reported Kyodo News, the perpetrator’s mother fled from the building where she was hiding.

Authorities urged people to stay indoors in the semi-rural area around the town of Nakano in the Nagano region, where the attack took place. The incident is a rare example of violent crime in Japan, which has a low homicide rate and some of the toughest gun laws in the world.

Public broadcaster NHK and other major outlets said the woman was stabbed and two police officers shot in the attack that afternoon.

A Nagano police spokesman said the officers who were killed were identified as Yoshiki Tamai (46) and Takuo Ikeuchi (61). Meanwhile, the woman who died is believed to be in her 40s or 50s.

Two women had fled from the house where the suspect was hiding, one at around 20:35 (1135 GMT) and the other shortly after midnight.

A witness told NHK he was working on a nearby farm when a woman ran from the road screaming for help before being stabbed to death.

“Help me,” said the woman until finally fell.

A 72-year-old witness said that at that time a man came with a large knife and stabbed the victim. He said he then called emergency services while neighbors tried to resuscitate the woman.

“Behind him came a man in camouflage and carrying a large knife, who stabbed him in the back,” the witness said

NHK, citing police, said the assailant then fired what appeared to be a shotgun at police officers who arrived on the scene.

Officers were in the patrol car and the assailant placed his gun in the window of the vehicle and fired twice, NHK reported.

Another man was injured in the attack but could not be saved because he was too close to the building where the suspect was taking shelter.

(deck/deck)