Several people were injured in a stabbing attack at a factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. The incident occurred at a rubber factory in the city of Mishima, located in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, when a man attacked multiple workers with a knife.

Incident details and casualties

According to authorities and local media reports, at least fourteen people were injured during the incident. The attack included multiple stabbings and the use of an unspecified liquid, which was reportedly sprayed during the assault.

Fire officials told local media that emergency services transported victims to nearby hospitals. Some victims are reported to be in serious condition, while others sustained less severe injuries.

Suspect detained at the scene

Police detained a 38-year-old man at the factory shortly after the attack. According to reports, he was found at the scene and taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder. Investigators have not yet made clear what his motive might have been.

The suspect was reportedly armed with a survival knife and wearing a gas mask at the time of the incident. Officials have not yet disclosed whether any charges have been formally filed.

Official comments and response

Local fire department officials said they received an emergency call in the late afternoon, reporting that several people had been stabbed and that a “spray-like liquid” had been used. They added that emergency services were immediately dispatched.

“Fourteen individuals are being transported by emergency services,”
said a firefighting department official in Mishima.

Authorities have not provided additional details about the nature of the liquid or whether it posed a chemical hazard.

Ongoing investigation

Police and emergency personnel were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident at the time of the reports. Officials have not released further information about the suspect’s motivations or the conditions of the injured victims.

Investigators said they are reviewing security footage and questioning witnesses as part of their ongoing efforts to understand how and why the attack occurred.

Context of such incidents in Japan

Violent crime is relatively uncommon in Japan, a country known for having low murder rates and strict weapon control laws. However, isolated stabbing incidents and attacks do occasionally occur and are treated seriously by law enforcement.

In recent years, Japan has seen occasional high-profile knife attacks, although overall crime levels remain low compared with many other countries.