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Fukuoka police arrest man in connection with fatal stabbing of school girl at McDonald’s

FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police on Thursday arrested a 43-year-old man in connection with a stabbing incident at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City last week that left a school girl dead.

On Thursday, police accused Masanori Hirahara, a resident of Kokuraminami Ward, of attempted murder.

At around 8:30 p.m., a man entered the 322 Tokuriki outlet of McDonald’s in Kokuraminami Ward and used a what appeared to be a knife to stab two third-year middle school students who were waiting in line at a register.

The two were taken to a hospital. A 15-year-old female student, Saaya Nakajima, who was stabbed in the abdomen, later died. A boy, also 15, suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police said previously.

Saaya Nakajima (X)

After the incident, the perpetrator fled the scene.

The subsequent investigation involved interviewing people in the area and analyzing security camera footage.

Thus far, police have accused Hirahara, who lives in Kokuraminami Ward, of stabbing the male student, according to an interview with a related investigator.

Investigations so far have not revealed any prior history of any trouble between Nakajima and the male student. The male student later described the perpetrator as a “complete stranger.”

Police plan to conduct further investigations to determine the motive for the attack.