One Dead, One Injured in Stabbing During Court-Ordered Eviction in Tokyo

A court official was killed and another man was seriously injured after a resident facing a court-ordered eviction attacked them with a knife at an apartment building in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward on Thursday, according to police.

The Metropolitan Police Department said emergency calls were received at around 10:15 a.m., reporting that multiple people had been stabbed at an apartment complex in the Izumi district.

Incident During Forced Eviction

Authorities said the victims were a Tokyo District Court bailiff in his 60s and Toshiaki Oguri, 61, an employee of a guarantor company. The two were visiting a second-floor apartment unit to carry out a legally mandated eviction.

They were accompanied by representatives from a law firm and a shipping company, who were present to assist with the eviction process, police said.

During the procedure, the resident of the apartment allegedly attacked the group with a kitchen knife, fatally wounding Oguri and seriously injuring the bailiff.

Police Investigation Ongoing

The injured bailiff was transported to a hospital and remains under medical care. Police have taken the resident into custody and are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the attack, including the individual’s background and the events immediately preceding the incident.

Authorities have not released further details regarding the suspect’s identity or motive, citing the ongoing investigation.

Broader Context

Forced evictions in Japan are relatively rare and are typically conducted after lengthy legal proceedings. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of court officials and private-sector workers involved in enforcement actions.

The Metropolitan Police Department stated that additional information will be disclosed as the investigation progresses.