FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police have revealed that the man in custody in connection with the knife attack before an event featuring HKT48 “thought about killing multiple members” of the idol group, reports TV Asahi (Dec. 19).
At shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Naoya Yamaguchi, a resident of Itoshima City, allegedly stabbed a male staff member for HKT48, 44, with a knife-like object at the BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA shopping center, located in Fukuoka City’s Chuo Ward.
After his apprehension, the suspect also hinted that he had stabbed a woman, aged in her 20s, near the first incident.
As previously reported, the woman and the male staff member were taken to a hospital in the city. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
In the latest development, interviews with investigators have revealed that Yamaguchi has said, “I thought about killing an HKT48 member and then killing myself.”
He continued, “I thought about killing multiple members. Any member would have been fine.”
On Tuesday, police sent Yamaguchi to prosecutors on suspicion of attempted murder and violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law.
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.
As Yamaguchi had purchased three knives two days before the incident and had visited the crime scene the day before, police are investigating the possibility that the crime was premeditated.
