Police reportedly seize gunman who held employees member hostage in a Japanese submit workplace for 8 hours
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police have captured a gunman who holed up at a submit workplace and have rescued a member of employees who was held hostage, NHK tv reported Tuesday.
It adopted a greater than eight-hour standoff with the person, who entered the submit workplace with a gun in Warabi, north of Tokyo, an hour after a hospital capturing through which two folks have been wounded within the close by metropolis of Toda.
Police mentioned they have been investigating the 2 instances collectively due to a chance they’re associated. They are additionally wanting into a hearth that broke out in a constructing close to the hospital across the time of the capturing.
Hundreds of police had surrounded the constructing housing the submit workplace. Television footage confirmed officers sporting helmets and bulletproof vests squatting behind the doorways of a patrol car parked outdoors. The video additionally confirmed the suspect – an older-looking man sporting a cap and holding a gun – when he confirmed up briefly on the entrance.
Earlier Tuesday, Saitama Prefectural Police mentioned two males – a physician in his 40s and a affected person in his 60s – have been wounded after blasts resembling gunfire have been heard outdoors a basic hospital within the metropolis of Toda, simply north of Tokyo.
The victims have been each acutely aware and their wounds aren’t life-threatening, police mentioned. Kyodo News company mentioned the 2 have been believed to be inside a session room on the primary ground once they have been attacked, and that cracks have been discovered within the window.
Police mentioned the attacker apparently fired his gun from the road after which fled on a motorbike.
In a 3rd suspicious case, police are additionally investigating a hearth that broke out at an residence constructing close to the hospital in Toda across the time of the capturing.
Most of the submit workplace employees have been capable of depart at first of the standoff, however two remained inside. One was seen to depart after about 5 hours.
Police had urged residents close to the submit workplace to take shelter at a facility arrange by the authorities. About 300 youngsters from a close-by faculty who often stroll residence have been taken residence by bus as a precaution, native media reported.
Japan has strict gun management legal guidelines, however lately, there was a rising concern about handmade weapons, such because the one allegedly used within the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
