TOKYO (APP) – Japanese police on Friday arrested a teenager on suspicion of killing a 13-year-old schoolboy, in a chilling murder some local media suggested was inspired by Islamic State (IS) militants executions.
The brutalised and naked body of Ryota Uemura was found in undergrowth near a river last Friday. His neck and been repeatedly hacked at, apparently using a blood-soaked knife that was discovered nearby.
Low-crime Japan has been captivated by the killing, with media reporting every twist and turn in the investigation, including details of how the youngster’s mobile phone was used to send a friend request on a messaging app around the time of his death.
Populist weekly Shukan Shincho reported the wounds appeared to indicate that whoever killed Ryota may have been trying to decapitate him.
“Some investigators suspect (the criminals) watched Internet videos showing the execution of hostages by Islamic State (IS) fighters and sought to mimic them,” the magazine said, quoting an unnamed source close to police.
