A masked man stabbed a young woman with a knife and fatally shot two police officers responding at a crime scene in the Japanese city of Nakano in Nagano prefecture.
The woman was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, while the two officers died shortly after. A fourth individual was injured but could not be rescued as he was lying near the scene of the attack.
Police alleged the man was wearing a camouflage outfit, a hat, and sunglasses aside from a mask. He has since barricaded himself in the house of the city council president.
According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, authorities warned nearby residents to shelter in place as the man was reportedly armed and dangerous.
No other details regarding the suspect and his motive were known at this point.
Gun crime is a rarity in Japan
Gun crime is very rare in Japan, being one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the world due to its strict firearm control laws.
However, Japan's gun control did not deter some actors, including the gunman in the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Nara in July 2022.
