Man Arrested After Fatal Stabbing During Court-Ordered Eviction in Tokyo

A man was arrested in Tokyo on Thursday after allegedly stabbing two men who had come to his apartment to carry out a court-ordered eviction, resulting in one fatality, according to police.

The suspect, a 40-year-old resident who identified himself as Hiroshi Yamamoto, was taken into custody several hundred meters from the apartment in Suginami Ward on suspicion of attempted murder. Police recovered a kitchen knife at the scene.

Victims and Incident Details

One of the victims, an employee of a rent guarantee company, was later pronounced dead. The other victim, a court enforcement officer, remained conscious following the attack. Both men were reported to be in their 60s.

Police said the incident occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m., when an emergency call was placed reporting a stabbing. Investigators stated that the suspect had fallen behind on rent payments, which led to the eviction procedure.

According to police, when the two men arrived at the apartment, they encountered the suspect holding a box emitting smoke. As the men attempted to flee toward the street, the suspect allegedly attacked them.

Fire and Arrest

Authorities also confirmed that a fire broke out inside the apartment, which was caused by the ignition of a portable stove gas cylinder. Emergency services responded to both the fire and the stabbing incident.

The suspect was arrested shortly after fleeing the scene. An investigative source said he admitted to the allegations, stating that he acted after realizing he was about to lose his place to live.

Official Response

The Tokyo District Court, which had dispatched the enforcement officer, released a statement describing the incident as “very regrettable.” The court added that it would review safety measures to better protect personnel involved in enforcement duties.

Ongoing Investigation

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the sequence of events leading up to the eviction and the suspect’s actions prior to the attack.