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October 2021 Tokyo attack

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October 2021 Tokyo attack
A Keiō Line train
LocationChōfu, Tokyo, Japan
Date31 October 2021 (2021-10-31)
around 8:00 p.m. (JST)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Stabbing, arson, acid
WeaponsKnife, hydrochloric acid
Deaths0
Injured17
MotiveTo receive the death penalty[1]
ConvictedKyota Hattori
Verdict23-year imprisonment
ConvictionsAttempted murder (17 counts)
Arson

At around 8 p.m. JST on 31 October 2021, 24-year-old Kyota Hattori carried out a knife and arson attack on a Keiō Railway train as it was travelling to Kokuryō Station on the Keiō Line in Chōfu, a city in the western suburbs of Tokyo, Japan.[2][3] He injured 17 people, one critically.[2][3] Japanese authorities later identified Hattori and he was arrested at the scene.[2][3]

Hattori stated that he was referring to the Tokyo stabbings, which occurred on 6 August 2021.[4] In response to these incidents, MLIT has decided to require railroad operators to install security cameras in all new trains.[5]

Incident

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The attack began as Hattori, dressed as Joker, reportedly sprayed pesticide into the eyes of the man sitting next to him on the train, before stabbing him in the chest. He then moved to another car and spread lighter fluid across the car in order to start a fire.[6] Some of the passengers thought the attacker was part of a Halloween stunt, until other passengers began fleeing and Hattori began waving a long bloody knife.[7]

As the Special Express train passed through Fuda Station, one of the passengers pressed the emergency alarm; in response, the train planned to make an emergency stop at Kokuryō Station. While the train was approaching Kokuryō Station, the emergency door release handle was pulled, causing the train to stop 2 m (6.6 ft) to 3 m (9.8 ft) before its proper parking position. As the train was coming to a stop, footage recorded by a passenger showed other passengers fleeing to one end of the train as the fire ignited by the attacker erupted in one of the cars. After the train had come to a stop, passengers opened the train's windows and climbed out to escape.[8]

Suspect

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After being arrested, the 24-year-old suspect was identified as Kyota Hattori. He allegedly told officers that he wanted to die after having work problems in June 2021 and that he was no longer getting along with his friends. He allegedly stated that if he had killed at least two people, he would receive the death penalty.[6]

Several media outlets noted that the man was dressed in clothing that appeared similar to that of the Joker character from the Batman franchise.[2]

Attempted recreation

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Eight days later on 8 November 2021, a 69-year-old man from Fukuoka attempted to set a Sakura Shinkansen service on fire.[9] Although no casualties were reported, the man claimed that the motive of the attack was to replicate the attacks done in Tokyo the week before. The perpetrator was then arrested after the train made an emergency stop at Shin-Yatsushiro Station.

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Hattori underwent a three-month psychiatric examination which was used to determine that he could be held criminally responsible for the attack. Prosecutors then indicted him in March 2022.[10]

On 26 June 2023, the first hearing of Hattori's actions was held. He was charged with attempting to murder a 72-year-old male passenger by stabbing in the chest and 12 others by setting fire.[10] Hattori refuted that he intended to set fire to kill people, and pleaded not guilty to that charge.[11]

Hattori was reportedly inspired by the actions of Yusuke Tsushima, who stabbed several passengers in a Tokyo train and setting the train on fire in August 2021.[11] Hattori was facing an internal transfer due to a workplace issue, and was having negative thoughts after learning that his ex-girlfriend whom he lived with till autumn of 2020, the year before he committed his act, was getting married.[10]

On 31 July 2023, Hattori was found guilty of attempted murder and arson, and sentenced to 23 years in prison.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Man with knife stabs at least 17 on Tokyo train; starts fire". Al Jazeera. 31 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "At least 17 injured in Tokyo subway knife and arson attack". BBC World News. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Yamaguchi, Mari (1 November 2021). "Man with knife injures 17 people on Tokyo train, starts fire". AP News. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ "京王線刃物男「小田急事件参考にした」17人搬送". 産経新聞 (in Japanese). 産業経済新聞社. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ "鉄道全車両に防犯カメラ設置義務化へ 相次ぐ事件受け 国交省" (in Japanese). NHK. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Lee (1 November 2021). "'Joker' maniac in Tokyo train attack was suicidal after he 'messed up at work'". New York Post. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  7. ^ Aitken, Peter (31 October 2021). "Man dressed as Joker stabs 17 people on Tokyo train". Fox News. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  8. ^ 日本放送協会. "京王線 逮捕された24歳容疑者「人を殺し死刑になりたかった」". NHKニュース. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Man Arrested after Setting Fire on Kyushu Shinkansen Train". nippon.com. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "'Joker' suspect denies intent to kill with fire set on Tokyo train | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Inoue, Yukana (26 June 2023). "Tokyo 'Joker' train attacker pleads not guilty to murder intent over arson". The Japan Times. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  12. ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (31 July 2023). "Japanese court sentences 'Joker' to 23 years for stabbing passenger, setting a fire on a Tokyo train". Associated Press. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
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