A man dressed in Batman’s Joker costume attacked passengers on a Tokyo train line on Sunday, injuring 17 people as many party-goers headed into the city centre for Halloween gatherings.
NHK public television reported at least 17 passengers were wounded, including one seriously. NHK said the suspect, 24, after stabbing passengers, poured a liquid resembling oil and set a fire.
“I thought it was a Halloween stunt,” one witness told the Yomiuri newspaper, recalling the moment he saw other passengers running in a panic towards his train car. “Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife.”
There was blood on the weapon, he said. The attacker was arrested on the spot and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder. His motive was not immediately known. A man believed to be in his 60s was unconscious and in critical condition after being stabbed.
Tokyo police officials said the attack happened inside the Keio train near the Kokuryo station.
Television footage showed a number of firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing the passengers, many of whom escaped through train windows. In one video, passengers were running from another car, where flames were gushing.
Credit: Aljazeera.com
