Tokyo knifeman 'posted warnings before killing spree'
Japanese man who knifed seven people in central Tokyo had posted warnings of his killing spree on the web, police reveal
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Monday, 09, Jun 2008 11:07
A Japanese man suspected of killing seven people in central Tokyo had posted warnings of his stabbing spree on the internet, police said on Monday.
According to Japanese media, the suspect - Tomohiro Kato – had posted messages on bulletin boards from his mobile phone as he drove towards the electronics district in Akihabara.
The 25-year-old was seen driving a rented truck into shoppers on Sunday before getting out of the car and attacking bystanders at random with a survival knife, killing seven people and wounding another ten.
A message posted on the web while Mr Kato was allegedly en route to Akihabara said: "I'll crash my vehicle into people and if the vehicle becomes useless, I'll get out a knife. Goodbye everyone!"
Mr Kato was reportedly stopped when he was overpowered by armed police, later telling officers he was "tired of life".
Local police also revealed the car factory worker had written a message entitled "A disaster in Akihabara" on May 27th.
On Monday tributes including flowers, sweets and comic book images were placed at a makeshift shrine at the site of the killings.
Mr Kato's alleged murders have shocked Japan, which has witnessed several high-profile knife crime incidents despite low crimes rates.
In March a man armed with two knives stabbed one person to death and injured seven others, while seven years ago a man with a history of mental illness burst into a school and fatally stabbed eight children.
The latest incident has led to the Japanese government signalling a willingness to make it more difficult for people to obtain knives.
We need to think of the possibility of discussing tightening the control of guns and knives," said chief cabinet secretary Nobutaka Machimura said.