Japan: Factory stabbing and chemical spray injure 14, suspect held

Japan witnessed a rare factory stabbing attack in Mishima, with 14 people injured and the attacker detained at the scene

PGurus Newsdesk

December 26, 2025

A man armed with a knife injured 14 people at a factory in central Japan before being detained

Rare violent attack at Japan factory leaves multiple workers injured

At least fourteen people were injured in a stabbing attack at a factory in central Japan on Tuesday, during which an unidentified liquid was also sprayed, according to local media reports. All the injured were conscious, though the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.

Kyodo News Agency reported that a man armed with a knife attacked workers at a rubber factory in Mishima city, west of Tokyo. The suspect was detained at the scene and is currently in police custody. Mishima firefighting official Tomoharu Sugiyama said emergency services received a call around 4:30 pm reporting that several people had been stabbed and that a “spray-like liquid” had also been used. The factory is operated by Yokohama Rubber Co., which manufactures tyres for trucks and buses.

Violent crime remains rare in Japan, which has one of the world’s lowest murder rates and strict gun control laws. However, isolated incidents such as stabbing attacks do occur. In recent years, Japan has witnessed high-profile cases including the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe and a 2023 shooting and stabbing rampage that killed four people. Earlier this year, a man was charged with attempted murder following a knife attack at a Tokyo metro station.

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