Teenager arrested in stabbing near Japan entrance exam venue

TOKYO (AP) — Three individuals, together with two college students on their solution to take college entrance exams, have been stabbed Saturday simply outdoors of a take a look at venue, and authorities arrested a 17-year-old scholar on the scene on suspicion of tried homicide, Tokyo police stated.

The victims — two 18-year-old highschool college students and a 72-year-old man — have been all aware and their accidents weren't life-threatening after they have been rushed to a hospital for remedy, police stated. However the aged sufferer was later in severe situation, native media reported.

Police stated the attacker, who was recognized solely as a highschool scholar from the central Japanese metropolis of Nagoya as a result of he's a minor, slashed the three individuals of their again on a road simply outdoors of the College of Tokyo’s most important campus, one of many venues for Japan’s two-day nationwide entrance exams this weekend.

Police stated they're investigating the attacker’s motives. He was not taking the examination. Police are additionally trying right into a small fireplace at a close-by subway station that occurred simply earlier than the assault. The suspect claimed to be chargeable for the subway station fireplace, in accordance with native media.

The teenage attacker advised police he was struggling along with his educational efficiency and that he wished to kill himself after committing the crimes, NHK public tv reported.

About 3,700 college students attended Saturday’s exams on the College of Tokyo they usually started as scheduled regardless of the assault.

Violent crimes are uncommon in Japan however there have been a sequence of random knifing and arson assaults in latest months.

In December, 25 individuals have been killed in an arson assault at a psychological well being clinic in Osaka, by which a suspect additionally was badly injured and later died. In October, a 24-year-old man wearing a Joker costume from the Batman films stabbed an aged man and began a hearth on a crowded practice automobile in Tokyo, injuring greater than a dozen individuals. In August, a 36-year-old man wounded about 10 individuals in a knife assault on one other Tokyo commuter practice.