On Thursday, a 28-year-old man was apprehended in Osaka following an incident where his car allegedly struck seven schoolchildren. Law enforcement officials suspect the act was deliberate.
The children, who were on their way home from school, were immediately taken to the hospital. While all seven remained conscious, one child sustained a serious facial injury.
The driver, identified as Yuki Yazawa, a Tokyo resident who is unemployed, was arrested at the scene by the Osaka Prefectural Police. He is being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police reported that Yazawa stated he was "fed up with everything" and admitted to intentionally trying to kill the schoolchildren by driving his car into them.
A witness described the car's erratic movements as it hit the children, noting that one girl was "covered in blood" and other children appeared to have scratches. Another witness, as reported by a broadcaster, said Yazawa was wearing a surgical mask and appeared to be in a state of shock after being pulled from the vehicle by schoolteachers.
5 Comments
Loubianka
While what he did is horrific, I hope people consider the state of mental health in Japan.
Eugene Alta
I hope this serves as a wake-up call to address mental wellness and stress in our society.
Loubianka
I’m not excusing his actions, but he clearly needs help and understanding, not just punishment.
Eugene Alta
I believe in rehabilitation rather than outright condemnation. He needs help before he can face justice.
Habibi
There’s often a backstory to such actions; let's focus on healing for all involved.