One Unconscious as Man Slams Car into Pedestrians in Tokyo

January 2, 2019

Tokyo--A man slammed a car into pedestrians in central Tokyo's Harajuku district early New Year's Day on Tuesday, leaving eight people injured, including one unconscious.

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested the man, who identified himself as Kazuhiro Kusakabe, 21, on suspicion of attempted murder.

The suspect told the police that he hit the pedestrians with an intention to kill them. He was also quoted as saying he acted in retaliation for the system of capital punishment and has no excuse for his act.

Around 12:10 a.m. (3:10 p.m. GMT Monday), there was an emergency call saying a car has hit people.

The suspect hit pedestrians on Takeshita Street and eight men aged from 19 to 51 were injured. Four of them suffered serious injuries, including a 19-year-old university student who fell unconscious.

According to investigative sources, the man is believed to have initially suggested that he committed an act of terrorism.

The car traveled 140 meters into the street and stopped after crashing into a building. The suspect abandoned the car and fled the site, and, in the meantime, beat a 19-year-old man on his face.

He was detained by a police officer in Yoyogi Park.

In the vehicle a rental car with a license plate of Osaka, western Japan, the police discovered a plastic tank containing kerosene and a high-pressure washer.

The suspect said he intended to burn his car with the kerosene or run over people, according to the sources.

Located close to East Japan Railway Co.'s <9020> Harajuku Station, Takeshita Street, a busy street lined with clothing stores and restaurants, was pedestrians-only on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Jiji Press