Hammer attacker wounds eight at Japanese university

By AFP
January 11, 2025
Police officers are pictured at the scene after a woman brandished a hammer inside a classroom at Hosei University’s Tama campus in Machida in the western suburbs of Tokyo on January 10, 2025. — AFP
Police officers are pictured at the scene after a woman brandished a hammer inside a classroom at Hosei University’s Tama campus in Machida in the western suburbs of Tokyo on January 10, 2025. — AFP

TOKYO: Eight people were wounded in a hammer attack at a university in Tokyo on Friday, with a 22-year-old student arrested at the scene, Japanese media said.

All those hurt were conscious, according to public broadcaster NHK, which cited police sources as saying that the afternoon attack took place at Hosei University´s Tama Campus.

NHK and other media outlets said the attacker, a woman sociology student, had swung a hammer during a class.

Several reports said people were seen bleeding from the head and that the woman had said she had pent-up frustration at being ignored.

Police could not immediately confirm details to AFP about a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has strict gun control laws.

Live footage broadcast by NHK showed a line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights at the campus in the suburban Machida district of the Japanese capital.

There are occasional stabbings and even shootings in Japan, including the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.