FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with a stabbing incident that took place before an event by idol group HKT48 on Sunday, reports Nippon News Network (Dec. 15).
At just before 5:00 a.m. on Monday, police arrested Naoya Yamaguchi, a resident of Itoshima City, on suspicion of attempted murder.
Yamaguchi stands accused of stabbing the male staff member for HKT48, aged in his 40s, with a knife-like object at shortly after 5:00 p.m. at the BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA shopping center, located in Fukuoka City’s Chuo Ward.
During questioning, Yamaguchi admitted to the charges. He said, “I stabbed the victim with the intention of killing him.” The suspect also hinted that he had stabbed the woman, aged in her 20s.
As previously reported, the woman and the male staff member were taken to a hospital in the city with unspecified injuries. The two victims are conscious and able to speak.
After the incident, the suspected perpetrator fled the scene.
According to police, Yamaguchi called police from a public phone near Fukuoka City just after 2:00 a.m. on Monday. Initially, he said that he saw the man involved in the incident, but later implied that he was the culprit.
When police arrived at the pay phone from which the call had originated, Yamaguchi was found in possession of two household knives.
Police are continuing the investigation, specifically in search of the motive for the crime.
On Sunday, HKT48 was scheduled to conduct an online “handshake” event to celebrate the release of the theater version of HKT48’s 19th single “Short Sleeve Angel.” The event was subsequently canceled.
