Terror on Halloween: Man dressed as “Joker” goes on a stabbing spree in Tokyo subway

Life imitated art in the Japanese capital of Tokyo when a man dressed in Batman’s Joker costume went on a stabbing spree with at least 17 people reportedly injured and one in a serious condition.

As per the latest reports, a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and according to Japanese media, the attack took place on Sunday, when the Japanese capital was full of Halloween revellers, many of whom were in costume.

The attacker was wearing a green shirt and indigo suit just as the joker when he viciously attacked people with a knife and sprayed hydrochloric acid on passengers.

A video clip published by NHK showed passengers running for their lives as the train was filled in smoke with flames also visible. Photos taken from cell phone cameras that were posted on Twitter showed people climbing through windows to escape the Keio line train at a station.

The line operator said services had been partially suspended after “an incident involving injuries” took place just before 8pm near Kokuryō in the city’s western suburbs.

“At first I thought it was something like a Halloween event. But I rushed away as a man carrying a long knife came in. I was very fortunate not to be injured,” a man who was on the train told NHK.

“He held a knife and started spreading liquid,” she said. “He was committing this act without showing any emotion, just mechanically. I think that brought fear to everyone.”

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