Shillong, June 14: In a shocking turn of events, an 18-year-old member of the Japan Self-Defence Force (SDF) was arrested on Wednesday under suspicion of attempted murder following a shooting incident that resulted in at least one fatality, as reported by local media.
According to public broadcaster NHK, the accused SDF member unleashed automatic weapon fire, injuring three other personnel and claiming the life of one victim, as confirmed by the defence ministry. NTV’s report stated that two of the victims were in critical condition.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno disclosed that the incident occurred at approximately 9 am at an SDF shooting range located in Hino City, situated in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu. An SDF spokesperson revealed that a total of eight shots were fired during the incident.
The victims involved in the tragic event included a man in his 50s and two individuals in their 20s. Fortunately, no reports of civilian casualties have surfaced, as per NHK.
Shootings are exceedingly rare in Japan, where strict regulations govern gun ownership. The country’s stringent system necessitates a rigorous vetting process for individuals aspiring to possess firearms.
