Police investigate substance spray incident in Tokyo

Around 20 people were injured on Monday after a man sprayed an unidentified substance near an ATM inside a luxury shopping complex in Tokyo’s Ginza district, according to The Guardian.

Police said the incident occurred on the mall’s ground floor, while fire officials reported that emergency crews responded after receiving reports of a strong smell inside the building.

Firefighters and officials wearing protective gear were seen assisting people from the building, and several individuals were taken away for medical checks. Two people were transported by ambulance, according to local media reports, although authorities said the injuries appeared to be minor. Police said they are investigating the incident.

Even though Japan is widely considered a safe country, there have been incidents of deadline spray in the past. In 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious group spread sarin nerve agent in the Tokyo metro, killing 14 and injuring about 50 people.