On Friday, workers at a Yokohama Rubber Company tire manufacturing plant in Mishima, located in the Shizuoka prefecture which is west of Tokyo, were assaulted by a 38-year-old man using both a knife and what authorities believe was bleach.
A 38-year-old man who was arrested at the scene. He was equipped with a survival knife and reportedly wore what looked like a gas mask. He moved through different departments of the facility during the attack.
At least 15 people were injured in total. Eight individuals were stabbed with a knife, five of whom sustained serious injuries. Seven more people were hurt when bleach was thrown at them. All victims remained conscious.
The attacker has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder. The attacker’s motive has not been disclosed by authorities. Reports suggest the attacker had some connection to the factory, possibly as an employee or former employee.
The Yokohama Rubber Company factory in Mishima produces passenger car tires and employs approximately 1,000 workers. This type of mass casualty attack is relatively rare in Japan, which has strict weapon regulations and generally low violent crime rates.
