Akihabara Massacre

The Akihabara massacre (Japanese: 秋葉原通り魔事件) by Tomohiro Kato to psychologically attack a troll on a BBS in 2008. Five knives and truck were used in the crimes, and as far as is finally known, 17 victims were transported.

Biography

On June 8, 2008, at an intersection in Akihabara, Tokyo, a truck driven by Tomohiro Kato went east from the west side of the intersection street, ignored the red light set up at the intersection with Chuo Street, and rushed into the intersection, jumping five pedestrians who were crossing on a green light. The surrounding people initially thought it was a traffic accident, but Kato, who was driving the truck, got out and stabbed 17 civilians and policemen with daggers as they rushed to the victim who was lying on the road. Kato shouted and attacked more people in the area, causing many to run for cover.

Later, Kato was subdued by responding officers and arrested. Some of the officers were slightly injured, but not life-threatening.

Motive

Kato was angry at a troller who was active on a BBS, and before the incident, he had made a criminal threat against the troller. Kato thought it would be better to be executed than to be imprisoned for making the threats, and decided to carry out the massacre as a protest against the troller.

The truck attack was based on the runaway truck attack in Sendai, and the attack by knives on people was based on the massacre in Ibaraki by Masashiro Kanagawa.