At least seven people were killed while 11 others were injured in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district on Sunday, June 6th. Local media reports say that a man apparently drove a truck in broad daylight through a crowd of pedestrians. Afterwards the man got out and began stabbing people at random with a 12-inch survival knife. Among the seven dead were six men aged 19, 20, 31, 33, 47 and 74. Another victim was a woman aged 21.

[UPDATE 06/08/08] — New reports coming in now have the death toll at seven.

The incident took place at around 12:30pm on Chuo dori — main thoroughfare that cuts through the world-famous shopping district. The road is closed on Sundays to vehicles to allow crowds of shoppers and pedestrians the opportunity to freely enjoy the large number of electronic shops, manga comic stores, cafes, and other related hobby events.

Police have arrested a 25-year old man by the name of Tomohiro Katou of Shizuoka Prefecture (Susono City) — originally born in Aomori Prefecture northern Japan. ”I came to Akihabara to kill people,” have sources quote Katou as telling police. ”I am tired of the world. Anyone was OK. I came alone.”

*Fallen victims:

  • Nakamura Katsuhiko (male, 74)
  • Fujino Kazunori (male, 19)
  • Koiwa Kasuhiro (male, 47)
  • Miyamoto Naoki (male, 31)
  • Kawaguchi Takahiro (male, 19)
  • Mutou Mai (female, 21)
  • Matsui Mitsuru (male, 33)
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Source(s): [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]