Armed man kills at least 3 in Japan

Tokyo, May 25 (EFE).- Two police officers and a woman were killed by a man apparently armed with a hunting rifle and a knife in central Japan on Thursday, authorities said.

The perpetrator has since barricaded himself in a building in Nagano prefecture, according to police.

The incident began just before 4:30 pm on Thursday, when the police were alerted over the stabbing of a woman in the city of Nakano.

Two policemen who were hit during the shooting later died, while another man was also wounded, Nagano authorities said.

When officers arrived on the scene the suspect shot at them with “what appeared to be a hunting rifle”, state broadcaster NHK reported, before fleeing and barricading himself in a nearby building, where he remains.

Two officers who were hit during the shooting later died, while another man was also wounded, Nagano authorities said.

Police have surrounded the premises and urged residents to stay inside their homes due to the risk of more shots being fired.

Local authorities said that the alleged perpetrator was dressed in military camouflage and was wearing sunglasses and a mask.

Shots were fired from the building where the suspect was holed up at around 8:00 pm, according to NHK.

Violent incidents are rare in Japan, which has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

The Asian country has strict laws in place for the possession of firearms, which are strictly prohibited except for weapons for specific uses such as hunting. EFE

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