TOKYO (TR) – A man in his 50s was arrested Monday after attempting to bring a knife into the House of Councilors office building, claiming a prominent lawmaker told him to do so, reports Jiji Press (Apr. 20).
Tokyo Metropolitan Police took the unidentified man into custody for suspected violations of the Swords and Firearms Control Law.
According to police, a staff member notified a patrolling riot squad officer at approximately 9:45 a.m. about a man carrying a blade.
The knife was uncovered when the suspect attempted to walk through a metal detector at the main entrance. He was detained without a struggle and did not act violently.
Upon his arrest, the man offered a bizarre defense to investigators, alleging he had been instructed to bring the weapon by a lawmaker he referred to simply as “Katayama.”
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, an Upper House member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, addressed the disturbance later on Monday. She confirmed she was made aware that the suspect had traveled to Tokyo with the intention of meeting her.
“He had nothing to do with me, and he had no appointment,” Katayama told reporters.
No one was injured during the incident.
