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Female hammer attacker in Japan wounds at least 8 at university

Media said the assailant appeared to be a student, who had been stopped by staff at Tokyo’s Hosei University

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Japanese police patrol to provide security. Violent crime is rare in the country. File photo: Shutterstock

At least eight people were wounded in a hammer attack at a university in Tokyo on Friday, with the assailant a woman in her 20s, Japanese media said.

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All those hurt were conscious, according to public broadcaster NHK, which cited police sources as saying that the afternoon attack took place at Hosei University’s Tama Campus.

Jiji Press said a woman in her 20s had been arrested. Broadcaster FNN said the assailant appeared to be a student in her 20s, who had been stopped by university staff.

Police could not immediately confirm details about a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has strict gun control laws.

Live footage broadcast by NHK showed a line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights at the campus in the suburban Machida district of the Japanese capital.

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There are occasional stabbings and even shootings in Japan, including the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.

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