Deadly knife attack near Tokyo raises alarm on child safety

People pray for victims at the site where a knife attack took place in Kawasaki near Tokyo Wednesday, May 29, 2019. A man carrying a knife in each hand and screaming “I will kill you!” attacked a group of schoolgirls near a school bus parked at a bus stop just outside Tokyo on Tuesday, officials said. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

TOKYO — Japanese police have raided the home of the male suspect in the knife attack this week that left two people dead and other schoolgirls wounded before killing himself.

The attack near Tokyo on Tuesday has raised concerns about how children can be protected on their way to school.

Officials said the knife-wielding man ran while slashing a group of schoolgirls and their parents walking to or waiting at a bus stop in Kawasaki, killing an 11-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man before fatally slashing himself. At least 17 people were injured.

On Wednesday, police raided the home of the alleged attacker, 51-year-old Ryuichi Iwasaki, in another part of Kawasaki.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged security officials to increase safety measures to protect commuting schoolchildren. /kga