14 injured in a stabbing incident in Japan

A shocking stabbing incident in central Japan left 14 people injured on Friday, with reports suggesting that an unknown liquid was also sprayed during the attack. Emergency services rushed the victims to hospital, while authorities launched an immediate investigation.

Tomo Haru Sugiyama, a fire department officer in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, told AFP that “14 people are being transported to hospital via emergency services.” The initial distress call came at approximately 4:30 pm from a local rubber factory, reporting that “five or six individuals had been stabbed” and that a “spray-type liquid” had been used in the attack.

Japanese media reported that police have arrested a suspect on charges of attempted murder. According to investigative sources cited by the Asahi Shimbun, the suspect, a man in his thirties, has connections to the factory where the incident occurred. Authorities said the suspect was wearing a gas-mask-like covering and was armed with a knife resembling a survival or combat knife. NHK reported that the individual has identified himself to police as 38 years old.

While the condition of the victims remains unclear, NHK noted that all are conscious. Sugiyama confirmed that at least six of the injured were transported by ambulance to nearby medical facilities. The precise nature of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.

The factory involved is operated by Yokohama Rubber Co., which specialises in the production of tyres for trucks and buses.

Although Japan has relatively low levels of violent crime, with strict firearm regulations and a low homicide rate, incidents involving knives or other weapons occasionally occur. High-profile cases include the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a 2023 incident in which a Japanese man was sentenced to death in October for a shooting and stabbing that killed four people, including two police officers. Additionally, in May 2025, a 43-year-old man was charged with attempted murder following a stabbing at the Toda-Mae Metro station in Tokyo.

Incident Summary Table:

Authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack, emphasising that violent crimes remain rare in Japan. Residents of Mishima have expressed shock, while emergency responders continue to monitor the victims’ conditions.