crime

Man arrested for attempted murder of police officer in koban

12 Comments

Police in Shiki, Saitama Prefecture, have arrested a 21-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of attempted murder after he slashed a 65-year-old police counselor in a koban (police box).

According to police, the incident occurred at around 11 a.m. Friday at the koban near the east exit of Shiki Station, Fuji TV reported. Police said the suspect, Kotaro Kato, has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying he wanted to “kill a cop.”

Police said Kato entered the koban, wanting to report a lost item. As the officer got a form to write down details, Kato suddenly took a knife with a 16-cm-long blade from his rucksack and slashed the officer’s left arm several times.

Kato was restrained by another officer who was in a back room at the time. The injured officer was taken to hospital where doctors said his wounds are not life-threatening.

Kato's parents told police on Saturday that before the attack, he said he wanted to go to prison. Kato's father said his son had been in bad shape mentally since quitting his job.


© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

12 Comments
Login to comment

Such incidents are going to become more frequent as the effects of COVID and subsequent unemployment take hold across the Nation. Private Security firms such as SECOM will do well ... until one of their own is caught robbing a household.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Not to condone violent acts at all, but the stalking and aberrant behavior I have seen in Japan (personally) is significantly linked with unemployment."

There is a particular area in Tokyo, where I've seen over time fights break out amongst japanese too. There is another street I've noticed that is quite hostile towards non japanese, such that so, the non japanese move around in tethered crews for protection on that street. I wold predict as situations worsen, all such violence will increase.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Part of the Japanese identity is the ‘job.’

Not having a job means less self worth.

Not to condone violent acts at all, but the stalking and aberrant behavior I have seen in Japan (personally) is significantly linked with unemployment.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What difference does it make regarding Nationality? The crime that low life committed was terrible and as a result, he should be locked up for at least sixty years so no one has to worry about being assaulted when minding their own businesses. It is time we stop being concerned about the rights of criminals and time we start being concerned regarding the rights of victims.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

This individual should be locked up for sixty (“60”) years old n solitarily confinement and never be eligible for parole. It is time we stop being worried about the rights of low lives. We need to be more concerned about the victims rights.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Is more likely for him to go to a mental hospital that actually prison itself. Terrible and dumb plan of his if he wanted to go to prison.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

His parents would have known their adult kid is a nut job.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Something seems to be wrong, if the only way for poor, unlucky or disadvantaged people to get accommodation, pocket money and daily food is to attack someone and then be imprisoned, what is obviously the only way to get full basic support. You don’t believe it? There are a number of cases of people , working and with low income, but living like homeless or in their cars. And also some seniors or single parents or poor families and so on don’t have enough to eat or food to give their children on a regular bases. So do all those people have to kill someone before their situation is realized and helped?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Lock this Kato animal up for 40 years in solitary. If he wants to be in prison, he will love it in there.

Perhaps his mental state should be assessed first. Ironically, if he is deemed mentally fit to stand trail, keeping him in solitary would probably make him mentally unfit by the time of his trail.

I hope that the police officer fully recovers soon.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

he wanted to “kill a cop.”

Wow! He’s definitely a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Kato's parents told police on Saturday that before the attack, he said he wanted to go to prison.

Good to have goals in life.

Kato's father said his son had been in bad shape mentally since quitting his job.

Grow up, Kotaro. Get another job. We've all been there.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Lock this Kato animal up for 40 years in solitary. If he wants to be in prison, he will love it in there.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites