TOKYO (AP) - Japanese police have arrested a 22-year-old South Korean sociology student following a hammer attack at Hosei University's Tama campus in Tokyo's western suburbs on Friday. Local media reported that the incident resulted in several injuries among students attending the class at the time.
The accused was taken into custody on-site for allegedly striking a male student during class, causing him minor injuries. Reports indicate that the hammer assault subsequently injured seven more students as the assailant allegedly swung at them in succession. However, it remains unclear whether her actions were premeditated or impulsive.
According to Kyodo News agency, the suspect expressed feelings of "frustration" during police questioning, citing experiences of being ignored and bullied by her peers. She reportedly used a hammer she discovered on campus to carry out the attack. Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos that ensued, with one student stating that the attacker appeared to swing the hammer without aiming, indiscriminately hitting those seated in the last row of the classroom. In the ensuing panic, students fled the scene.
Another witness noted the assailant’s expressionless demeanor, suggesting that her actions did not appear to be targeted toward any particular individual. The Tokyo metropolitan police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but have not released further details regarding the motives or circumstances of the event.
This incident brings to light the ongoing discrimination some Koreans face in Japan, a lingering issue rooted in the complex historical relationship between the two nations. The bitter past dates back to Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula, which lasted until Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945.
While serious crimes are rare in Japan, incidents of random violence, including stabbings and shootings, have been reported in recent years. For instance, in December, a junior high school student was fatally stabbed, and her friend was injured in an alleged random attack at a McDonald's in Kitakyushu, a southwestern city. In that case, the police later arrested a suspect.
In another troubling incident from 2022, three individuals, including two students heading to take university entrance exams, were stabbed just outside the University of Tokyo. Authorities arrested a 17-year-old student at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, highlighting concerns about safety in public places.
This series of events underscores the necessity for ongoing discussions about safety, mental health, and the social dynamics within educational institutions in Japan. The authorities are expected to continue their investigation into the recent attack at Hosei University while considering the wider implications of such acts of violence in society.
