TOKYO – At least 19 people were killed and over 30 were left injured in a stabbing spree at a facility for disabled people west of Tokyo, in one of Japan’s deadliest mass killings since World War II.
The attack happened about at 2:30 am local time on Tuesday morning at the facility for handicapped people in Sagamihara.
Following the attack, Police arrested a former employee, who went to a nearby police station and allegedly admitted to the attack, saying that he wanted people with disabilities to disappear.
The 26-year-old was identified as Satoshi Uematsu by the local media.
Local police have said that the suspect had sent a handwritten letter to politicians in February in which he threatened to kill hundreds of disabled people. He was detained for almost two weeks after the incident and was then released.
His victims were aged between 19 and 70, the Kyodo news agency said, citing the Sagamihara City Fire Department.
In a brief press conference, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed that there was no terror link with ISIS.
More details awaited.
