A 28-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in Osaka after ploughing his car into a group of schoolchildren in what local media described as a deliberate car attack, a rare but disturbing act of violence in Japan.

The incident took place as seven children were walking home from school. According to public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese outlets, all the children were injured and taken to the hospital. Authorities reported that all seven remained conscious and none were in life-threatening condition.

Although police have not confirmed details to international news agencies, NHK cited unidentified investigative sources stating that the suspect, who lives in Tokyo, admitted to driving the car with the intention to kill.

Reports indicate that the man told police he was "fed up with everything" and made the decision to ram his vehicle into the children to "kill someone." NHK noted that the man has been held by Osaka police on suspicion of attempted murder.

Witnesses told Nippon TV that the car was seen “zigzagging” before striking the children. “One girl was covered in blood, and other kids had what appeared to be scratches,” one bystander said. The suspect, who was reportedly wearing a surgical mask, looked “in shock” after being pulled out of the vehicle by nearby school staff.

Violent crime in Japan

The scene quickly descended into chaos, with local teachers intervening to subdue the suspect. Eyewitnesses expressed horror at the sudden act of violence in what is typically one of the world’s safest countries.

Though violent crime in Japan is statistically rare, incidents like this have a deep societal impact and often revive national discussions around mental health and public safety.

This latest car incident echoes past tragedies, such as the 2008 Akihabara attack. In that case, attacker Tomohiro Kato rammed a rented truck into a crowd before going on a stabbing spree, killing seven. He was later executed in 2022.

Kato had expressed feelings of isolation and resentment prior to the attack, including online posts complaining of social rejection and job instability, factors that some experts cited as contributors to his violent outburst.

Japan, along with the United States, is one of the only G7 nations to retain the death penalty, with widespread public support. Shocking incidents such as Thursday’s attempted murder in Japan often renew debate about crime prevention, mental health services, and sentencing policies.

The Osaka police continue their investigation into the suspect’s motives and background, while the country reels from yet another reminder that even rare acts of violence can leave lasting scars.

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