19 killed in mass killing in Japan

Photo by Issei Kato, Reuters

In Sagahimara, Japan, 19 people were killed in Japan’s worst mass killing in decades, according to a senior government official. The suspect was a knife-wielding man who stabbed the victims as they slept at a facility for the disabled.

There were at least 25 other residents that were injured in the attack.

“This is a very heart-wrenching and shocking incident in which many innocent people became victims,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

The police have arrested Satoshi Uematsu, 26, a former employee at the facility. One media report has said that Uematsu had called for the euthanasia of the severely disabled.

An earlier news conference had said that Eumatsu had turned himself in the Kanagawa prefecture official and was identified only by his surname of Sakuma.

Kyodo news agency noted that the victims ranged in age from 19 to 70, nine males and 10 females. 

The staff called police at 2:30 am local time and reported that a man armed with a knife was on the grounds of the Tsukui Yamayuri-En facility. He wore a black T-shirt and trousers, according to the reports.

The facility was established by the local government and aims to care for people with a wide range of disabilities.

Sagamihara residents said that the last murder in their area was ten years ago. “They are truly innocent people. What did they do? This is shocking,” a former employee said.

The police recovered a bag with several knives and there was one stained with blood. They are still investigating the possible motives.

“I want to get rid of the disabled from this world,” the suspect said. Other reports said that he had a grudge after being fired from the facility.

Broadcaster NTV reported that the arrested man has sent a letter to the speaker of the lower house of Japan’s parliament, calling for euthanasia of disabled people.

“My goal in a world, in which, in cases where it is difficult for the severely disabled to live at home and be socially active, they can be euthanized with the consent of their guardians,” he said in the letter.

It was reported that the facility is usually locked during night-time but the suspect broke into the building by breaking a window.

Mass killings such as this rarely happen in Japan as the country has strict gun laws and possession of firearms by the public is rare. | ASCS - FNPH

Source: ABS-CBN News

Local News News 9:04 AM