TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have obtained warrants for the arrest of two Chinese women who have left Japan in connection with vandalism at Meiji Jingu shrine earlier this month, reports TBS News (Apr. 14).
Police suspect that Piao Jinyu and Piao Shanai, both 49, damaged multiple structures at the shrine, including a torii gate, in at least 15 locations with an oil-like liquid on April 3.
The suspects became persons of interest after an examination of surveillance camera footage.
Similar damage has also been discovered at temples and shrines in Kyoto, Nara and Okinawa prefectures and other parts of Tokyo.
On March 27, the suspects travelled from Shanghai to Okinawa Prefecture’s Naha Airport, according to immigration records. Three days later, they moved to Osaka. After arriving in Tokyo on April 1, they left for Shanghai four days later.
