TOKYO - Four teenage boys have been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of stealing ketchup and other goods from a supermarket before splashing the ketchup on the face and body of a woman in her 70s, with one suspect telling police he had targeted around 10 people in similar attacks.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested an unemployed 17-year-old boy from Tokyo's Katsushika Ward, a 15-year-old male high school student from the same ward, and two male high school students aged 15 and 16 from Adachi Ward on suspicion of theft and assault.
The four are suspected of shoplifting a total of 24 items, including ketchup and eggs, from a supermarket in Edogawa Ward in June.
They are then alleged to have splashed the stolen ketchup on the face and body of a woman in her 70s as they passed her on a street in Katsushika Ward.
According to police, the four became friends at a video game arcade and were riding bicycles together to an arcade at the time of the incident.
During questioning, the 15-year-old high school student from Katsushika admitted to shoplifting but partially denied the allegations, saying, "I shoplifted, but I didn't throw ketchup on anyone." The other three suspects have admitted to the allegations, police said.
The 17-year-old also told investigators, "I splashed it on about 10 people, like a random attacker," according to police.
Investigators are examining whether the group was involved in additional similar incidents.
Source: TBS
