FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police are investigating an attempted arson attack that targeted an office of a second-tier gang of the recently troubled Yamaguchi-gumi in Fukuoka, reports TBS News (Jan. 9).
At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Friday, several Molotov cocktails were thrown into the office of the Ichido-kai, which is located in the Haruyoshi area of Chuo Ward.
One part of a wall was damaged in the attack. There were no injuries.
Police suspect that the incident is connected to the split of the Yamaguchi-gumi last year. In September, 13 affiliate gangs bolted to form a rival, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.
About four hours before attack in Fukuoka, several men beat an acquaintance of a former affiliate member of the Ichido-kai over the head with bottles on a street in Asakura City. The victim, aged in his 20s, left the Ichido-kai to join the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi after the split.
Police suspect that the attempted arson attack was revenge on the part of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi for the beating.