19 dead, over 20 injured in knife attack at disabled home near Tokyo

World Today

At least 19 dead, over 20 injured in knife attack outside of Tokyo

In Japan, a former employee at a home for the disabled is accused of a mass stabbing which left 19 people dead and at least 20 wounded.

The suspect had written to Parliament months ago said that severely disabled people should be euthanized.

As CCTV’s Malini Wilkes reports, he also described his plans for an attack. 

This mountainous suburb which is an hour’s drive from Tokyo is normally a draw for Japanese seeking refuge from the frenetic pace of the capital.

But now the town of Sagamihara and the entire nation are in shock, after a stabbing rampage at a center for the disabled left 19 people dead.

Local authorities said the attacker is 26 year old Satoshi Uematsu, a former employee at the center which had housed 149 mentally and physically challenged people.

Japanese media has been broadcasting this surveillance video, which they said shows Uematsu heading to the building early in the morning.

They said he smashed a window and tied up a staff member before stabbing residents ranging in age from 19 to 70.

Authorities said after the attack on the facility, Uematsu turned himself in, presenting three bloodied knives and telling police he had been fired earlier this year and held a grudge.

According to local authorities, the attacker was committed to a hospital earlier this year after threatening to kill hundreds of disabled people.