300 people riot outside Okinawa police station
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The riots came after a teenager claimed he was hit by a police officer in the face with a baton, leading to the temporary loss of his eyesight.
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Riots in Japan in 2015 (Reuters)
Nearly 300 people rioted in Japan's Okinawa city Friday, following allegations that an officer hit a teenager with a baton in the face.
According to The Okinawa Times, municipal police received complaints about motorcyclists speeding and creating too much noise on Thursday. According to eyewitnesses, the police apprehended a 17-year-old riding his motorbike to his house from a convenience store and seemed to be unrelated to the gang of cyclists.
The Times reported that the teen told his friends he temporarily lost his eyesight after being hit with a baton by a policeman.
The news was quickly circulated on social media, which caused hundreds to gather Thursday night at the police station and demand the officer on duty be held accountable.
Rioters pelted the police station with raw eggs, firecrackers, and stones, according to media accounts.
Local TV footage showed officers outside the station protecting the entrance with shields and blocking windows and glass doors.
No injuries have been reported and the Okinawa police have yet to make a statement.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
