TOYAMA (TR) – Toyama Prefectural Police have arrested a 53-year-old unemployed man accused of plotting a random mass murder in Tokyo, with the suspect claiming he hoped to be shot by police or sentenced to death.
Police believe that Katsumi Mori was inspired by a massacre that took place in Tokyo nearly two decades ago, reports Nippon News Network (July 14).
Mori was taken into custody on the rare charge of preparation for murder. Authorities acted swiftly after receiving a tip-off that an individual was “planning to kill an unspecified number of people.”
When officers visited Mori’s residence, they discovered a knife packed inside his backpack. Police believe he intended to travel to the capital to carry out a random stabbing spree.
“I wanted to die due to the financial hardships caused by high prices,” Mori told investigators. “I thought that if I committed a random murder in Tokyo, I would be shot to death or sentenced to death and could die.”
Dressed entirely in black
According to investigative sources, Mori had confessed his plan to an acquaintance and had already booked a one-way highway bus ticket to Tokyo. Police suspect his plot was heavily inspired by the horrific 2008 Akihabara massacre, in which seven people were killed and 10 others injured during a random daytime rampage.
Neighbors described Mori as mild-mannered but visibly struggling. One local resident recalled recently seeing him dressed entirely in black, resting on a step with a bulging black backpack.
“He didn’t seem to have a comfortable lifestyle,” the neighbor said, noting that Mori had previously declined offers for yard work by claiming he was frequently in and out of the hospital for illness.
“Would have been too late”
Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police investigator Tatsuyuki Narumi praised the Toyama police for their rapid response, noting that building a case for “preparation for murder” before an incident occurs is exceptionally difficult and rare nationwide.
“If the suspect had gone to Tokyo and committed the crime, it would have been too late,” Narumi said, emphasizing that police moved immediately to corroborate the tip rather than waiting to build a massive file of evidence.
Police are continuing to investigate the specific details and timeline of Mori’s planned attack.
