An unidentified irritant substance was sprayed inside a large shopping mall in Tokyo, sending dozens of citizens to the hospital. The incident, which occurred in the heart of Ginza on a weekend crowded with shoppers, threw the surrounding area into severe chaos.
According to AFP and Japan's NHK on Wednesday, the incident occurred around noon the previous day inside a large complex shopping mall located at 6-chome, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Police and fire authorities were dispatched urgently after a series of reports stating "there is a pungent smell" and "people are coughing and collapsing."
At the scene, about 25 men and women ranging from their 20s to 80s complained of throat pain, coughing, and breathing difficulties. Among them, 19 with severe symptoms were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals. Fortunately, no patients are reported to be in life-threatening condition. Most of the victims were reportedly ordinary customers using the bank ATM corner located on the first floor of the shopping mall.
A "Spritz" in Front of the ATM... Man in Black Flees, Ginza Area Sealed Off
The Metropolitan Police Department believes a man sprayed a tear spray-like substance near the bank ATM before fleeing the scene. Security cameras reportedly captured a man wandering at the scene wearing a black long-sleeved top, light-colored pants, and a white mask.
A woman who was at the scene explained the situation in an interview with a Japanese broadcaster, saying, "As soon as I went toward the ATM, the inside of my throat stung and it was hard to breathe," and "I even felt my mouth go numb, so I rushed outside." Another witness said, "At first, I thought there was a small fire. In an instant, people covered their mouths and rushed outside."
The Tokyo Fire Department deployed a special disaster response team to conduct on-site component analysis. Immediately after the incident, roads around Ginza Six were fully blocked off, and dozens of vehicles including fire trucks and special ambulances gathered, causing major traffic congestion in the area.
A preliminary analysis reportedly detected a substance similar to capsaicin, the component in chili peppers. Police are tracking the suspect's escape route while continuing the investigation, focusing on the possibility of an indiscriminate crime targeting unspecified individuals.
"Japan Is No Longer a Safe Zone"... Past Terror Nightmares Resurface
Japan, with its strict gun regulations, has been considered a country with a relatively low rate of violent crime, but incidents that unsettle citizens have been occurring one after another recently. In 2022, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during a campaign speech, and last year, an attack using bladed weapons and an irritant liquid at a factory in the central region injured many people.
Above all, the shock of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas terror attack still runs deep in Japanese society. At the time, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway, killing 14 people and injuring more than 5,000 victims.
This incident is also delivering considerable shock to Japanese society in that it occurred at a multi-use facility in the heart of the city. Police are investigating the exact composition of the substance and the motive for the crime, while strengthening vigilance in preparation for the possibility of additional damage.
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