At least 14 hurt in horror mass stabbing at Japanese factory

A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with a “spray-like liquid” at a rubber factory in Japan.

Emergency services were called to Yokohama Rubber Company in the city of Mishima, west of Tokyo, on Friday following reports of a stabbing.

They arrested the suspect at the scene, and rushed several people to hospital, with at least six sustaining serious injuries, according to local media.

Fifteen people were injured in a stabbing attack in a rubber factory in central Japan (AFP via Getty Images)

A tire factory employee said that “five or six people were stabbed by someone” and that a “spray-like liquid” was used during the attack, with the exact extent of the victims’ injuries currently unclear.

Police have cordoned off the area and are testing the spray used to identify what the liquid is - it is currently believed to be bleach.

Shizuoka Prefectural Police said the suspected attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, but there was no immediate explanation of his motive.

Local media reported that the suspect was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask.

There are also reports that the suspect is said to have a connection to the tire plant.

The Yokohama Rubber Mishima Plant is a major production site in the region, producing tires for passenger cars, and had at least 987 workers as of December 2024.

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