Man ‘stabs woman to death’ and then ‘shoots dead two police officers’

Two police officers killed during armed siege in Japan

Three people, including two police officers, have been killed in Nagano in central Japan this morning, with a suspect armed with a rifle and knife holed up inside a building, according to police and media reports. A witness told NHK public television that a woman fell while being chased by the suspect, who then stabbed her with a knife and shot at two police officers as they arrived at the scene in Nakano city in the prefecture of Nagano.

The three were taken to a nearby hospital, where the woman was later pronounced dead, police said.

The two police officers also died later, according to NHK.

A fourth person who was injured could not be rescued because he was near where the suspect was holed up, Kyodo News agency reported.

Television footage on NHK showed uniformed police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying shields with an ambulance nearby.

Pictures also showed police cars racing to the scene.

Police described the suspect as a man wearing a camouflage outfit, a hat, a mask and sunglasses, Kyodo News said.

City officials have urged those in the area to stay home.

No other details, including about the suspect and his motives, were immediately known.

JUST IN: Widdecombe mocks EU over bid to force bloc’s train drivers to speak English

Gun violence is rare in Japan, which has one of the lowest gun crime rates in the world as a result of extremely strict laws relating to firearms control.

In 2018, just nine deaths from firearms were reported compared with 39,740 in the United States, data published by the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney revealed.

Nevertheless, the nation was shocked last year when Shinzo Abe, the country’s longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead during a campaign speech in Nara.

Even in that instance however, the attacker used a handmade gun.

Don’t miss…
Wedding descends into chaos after ‘top Russian official’s daughter attends'[LATEST]
Russia ‘using washing machine parts in missiles’ as it feels heat from sanctions[LATEST]
Ukraine scolded over use of American weapons in attack on Russian city[LATEST]

We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news

Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @daily_express

‌

Source: Read Full Article