2 feared dead, 17 hurt in Japan stabbing attack – fire dept

TOKYO, Japan – Two people, including a child, are feared dead after a mass stabbing attack on Tuesday in the city of Kawasaki near Tokyo that injured a further 17, a fire department official told AFP.

“One man, and one female child are showing no vital signs,” said fire department official Yuji Sekizawa, a phrase commonly used in Japan to mean the victims have died but the deaths have not yet been certified by an official medical professional.

“A man stabbed them,” another spokesman for the department, Dai Nagase, earlier told AFP.

“We received an emergency call at 7:44 am, which said four elementary schoolchildren were stabbed.”

Public broadcaster NHK said at least three people were in critical condition.

Police said one suspect, a man, had been detained. NHK said he had stabbed himself, suffering a serious wound.

The broadcaster said two knives were spotted at the scene, but there was no immediate confirmation from officials.

The attack occurred at a park not far from a local train station, local media said, at the time of the morning commute.

Footage broadcast on local TV stations showed multiple police cars, ambulances and fire engines at the scene. Emergency medical tents were put up to treat the wounded. /cbb