Japan knife attack: The disabled should disappear, says killer to cops

The 26-year-old man later turned himself in at a police station, admitting to officers that he committed the crime and reportedly also saying, 'the disabled should all disappear'

Sagamihara: A knife-wielding former employee killed 19 people and injured 25 at a care centre for the mentally disabled in Japan yesterday, in the country’s worst mass killing in decades.

Rescue workers at the Tsukui Yamayuri En care centre in Japan. Pic/AFP

The 26-year-old man later turned himself in at a police station, admitting to officers: "I did it". He reportedly also said: "The disabled should all disappear".

Authorities identified the attacker as Satoshi Uematsu, who had been fired and held a grudge against Tsukui Yamayuri En care centre. The attack began at 2.10 am when Uematsu allegedly broke a first-floor window to get into the building, after which he tied up caregivers before starting to stab residents.

"The patients are very shocked mentally, and they cannot speak now," a doctor said.
          

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