Driver Intentionally Rams Into 7 Children in Osaka

May 02, 2025 | News On Japan

OSAKA - A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after driving into seven elementary school children near an Osaka school as they were walking home.

The incident occurred on a street near Senbon Elementary School in Osaka's Nishinari Ward. Around 1:30 p.m., the suspect allegedly drove his car into a group of students, injuring seven of them. He was apprehended on the spot by a male school support staff member.

The suspect has been identified as Yuki Yazawa, a 28-year-old unemployed man from Higashimurayama, Tokyo. According to police, he has admitted to the act, stating, "I hated everything and wanted to kill people, so I drove into them with my car."

All seven injured children remain conscious and are being treated at a hospital. The victims include four second-grade boys, one second-grade girl, and two third-grade boys, all of whom were students at Senbon Elementary School.

A child who witnessed the scene described the moment: "As I was about to go home, a car came from behind, swerving like this. It didn't hit me, but the second- and third-graders in front got run over. One of them was caught between the car and the wall."

Yazawa told investigators he intended to kill several elementary school students by ramming into them. His vehicle, believed to be a rental based on its license plate marked with the hiragana character "wa," was towed by police for further examination.

A press conference was held at 4:30 p.m. by the Osaka Prefectural Police to address the incident.

Source: YOMIURI

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