On 25 May 2023, a man killed four people in a shooting and stabbing attack in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.[1][2]
| 2023 Nagano attack | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of incident | |
| Location | Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 36°44′19″N 138°20′32″E / 36.73861°N 138.34222°E |
| Date | May 25–26, 2023 4:26 p.m – 4:37 a.m JST (UTC+09:00) |
Attack type | Stabbing, mass shooting, shootout |
| Weapon | Long gun, knife |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Masanori Aoki |
Incident
editAccording to a witness, a masked man wearing camouflage chased a woman while brandishing a large knife, before stabbing her in the back.[3] Upon the arrival of officers at the scene, the suspect fired what appeared to be a hunting rifle, striking multiple people. After the assault, the suspect sought refuge within the residence of Nakano City Assembly speaker, Masamichi Aoki.[1] During the siege that followed, two relatives of the suspect, including his mother, managed to escape from the home. He was later apprehended and identified as Aoki's son at 4:37 A.M. the next day.[4]
A woman in her 40s and two police officers, aged 46 and 61, were killed in the attack. The officers were identified as Inspector Yoshiki Tamai and Sergeant Takuo Ikeuchi, who were not equipped with bulletproof vests while responding to an emergency call.[5] They were killed at close range with shotgun slugs.[6]
An injured woman who was unable to be transported from the scene was pronounced deceased at 4:54.[2][7] The Nagano Prefectural Police (NPP) requested an arrest warrant for the man on suspicion of murder on the morning of the 26th.[7]
The National Police Agency (NPA) deployed the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Special Investigation Team and the Kanagawa Prefectural Police's Special Assault Team in response to requests for assistance from the NPP.[8][9]
Attacker
editAfter barricading himself inside his father's residence for several hours, the suspect, 31-year-old Masanori Aoki, was eventually apprehended.[2] Authorities confirmed that the suspect possessed a valid firearm permit.[10]
The motive behind his actions remains unclear.[11] When questioned by a witness about the reason for stabbing the woman, the suspect allegedly responded, "I killed her because I wanted to." He later stated that he thought the women he killed were talking badly of him during a police interrogation.[12]
Masamichi Aoki, the speaker for the Nakano City Assembly, resigned the day his son was arrested.[13]
Aftermath
editFollowing the arrest, residents of the area were initially compelled to find alternative accommodations for the night, and the local school remained closed.[14] However, once the arrest took place, authorities informed the community that they were free to resume their daily activities.
References
edit- ^ a b Khalil, Shaimaa; FitzGerald, James (2023-05-25). "Nagano: Rare gun and knife attack in Japan leaves four dead". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ a b c "長野 中野市立てこもり【速報中】 男の身柄確保 女性死亡 死者4人に". NHKニュース. 2023-05-26. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "Japan: suspect detained after four killed in shooting and stabbing attack in Nagano". The Guardian. 2023-05-26. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ Jukoza, Emi; Ogura, Junko; Xu, Xiaofei (2023-05-25). "Suspect arrested after shooting and stabbing attack in Japan leaves three dead". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14917345
- ^ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14920299
- ^ a b "中野市の立てこもり事件、逮捕状を請求（信濃毎日新聞デジタル）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "【速報】警視庁捜査一課特殊班「SIT」と神奈川県警特殊部隊「SAT」を派遣 長野の立てこもり事件". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. 2023-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ 美慧, 王 (2023-05-26). "「ＳＩＴ」「ＳＡＴ」２つの特殊部隊連携 全国的な応援体制構築 長野立てこもり". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Nagano: Man detained over shooting and stabbing attack in Japan". BBC News. 2023-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Four dead, suspect arrested in rare shooting in Japan". 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023 – via Reuters.
- ^ 日本放送協会 (2023-05-26). "【詳報】長野 中野市 立てこもり容疑者「悪口言われたと思い殺した」 | NHK". NHKニュース. Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "青木・中野市議会議長が議員辞職 立てこもり事件の容疑者の父親". 信濃毎日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2023-05-26. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "長野で男が発砲、立てこもり 市議会議長の息子か 警官ら3人死亡：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2023-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
