Man arrested in Osaka after suspected car attack on children
A serious incident shook the city of Osaka, Japan, when a man ran over seven schoolchildren with his car, leaving several injured. Osaka Prefectural Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Yuki Yazawa, who was arrested at the scene after intentionally running over the children.
A man was arrested Thursday in the Japanese city of Osaka after running over seven children with his car in an alleged deliberate attack, local media reported.
Authorities confirmed that Yazawa declared himself "fed up with everything" and confessed his intention to kill, which immediately changed the focus of the case. Although initially ruled an accident, police treated the incident as attempted murder based on the driver's statements when he was arrested at the scene.
The accident occurred as the children, ages 7 and 8, were walking home from elementary school along a side street in the neighborhood. A 7-year-old girl suffered a broken jaw, while the other six children suffered minor injuries, Osaka police said.
The car was zigzagging when it struck the children, a witness told Nippon TV. One girl was covered in blood, and the other children had what appeared to be scratches. Other witnesses reported that the children fell to the ground screaming, while the driver remained motionless and stunned inside the vehicle, offering no resistance.
Public television NHK broadcast images of ambulances and paramedics treating the injured children, sparking alarm among the local and national community.
These cases are rare in Japan
Violent crime is rare in Japan, but recent cases have raised concerns about the rise in attacks motivated by extreme personal motives. The country still remembers the 2008 attack in Akihabara, Tokyo, where a man ran over and stabbed several people, causing seven deaths in total.
Yuki Yazawa faces formal charges of attempted murder and remains in custody while local authorities continue their investigation. Area schools have strengthened security measures and offered psychological support to students affected by the shocking incident.