Five people were injured Wednesday, April 29, 2026, when a man attacked them with a hammer in Fussa, Tokyo, and subsequently sprayed police officers with a liquid substance. The incident highlights a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, a country known for its low levels of gun violence and overall safety.
According to reports from Jiji Press, the 44-year-old assailant attacked two high school students on a street approximately 700 meters northwest of Fussa Station around 7:20 a.m. Local time. One of the students sustained a fracture of the left orbital floor.
Witnesses reported the attack to police, who arrived to find the man had retreated to his home and was wielding a knife. He then sprayed the responding officers with a yellow liquid before fleeing the scene. A subsequent search of his home revealed a survival knife and multiple hammers.
Police say the man reportedly attacked the students after his mother had cautioned a group of seven teenagers who were loitering near his residence. The students had agreed to quiet down, but the man allegedly launched the attack shortly afterward.
Authorities are currently pursuing the man on suspicion of attempted murder. According to investigators, security camera footage showed the suspect escaping through a back door while officers were distracted following the initial spray of liquid. The development underscores the challenges authorities face in apprehending the suspect.
