Deadly knife attack on schoolgirls shocks nation

TOKYO — In a country considered among the safest in the world, a deadly knife attack near Tokyo on a group of schoolgirls has shocked Japanese parents and officials and raised concerns over the safety of children.

Authorities say a man brandishing two knives slashed the girls and at least two parents as they gathered at a school bus stop in Kawasaki on Tuesday. An 11-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man were killed before the attacker fatally slashed himself in the neck. At least 17 people, mostly children attending Caritas elementary school, a Catholic private school, were injured.

Many Japanese children walk to neighborhood schools alone or in small groups, and some commute by themselves on trains or buses. Elderly people and volunteers often serve as crossing guards or safety monitors, with little other security.

Mieko Miyata, head of a nonprofit research institute specializing in children’s safety, said many people in Japan are too complacent about safety because of the low crime rate. Safety officials often focus on responses to disasters rather than on crime prevention, she said.

Children going to school are particularly vulnerable to attacks, she said, because they can be easily located at places such as school bus stops and often wear uniforms.

According to education ministry statistics from 2016, 66% of schools had neighborhood safety patrols staffed only by volunteers, and less than 10% hired security guards at school.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told police and education officials on Wednesday to reinforce safety measures and patrols to protect schoolchildren across the country. He also asked for more neighborhood watch groups by community volunteers, while urging schools and authorities to share information about suspicious people.