The Tokyo Fire Department and local Japanese officials reported that 17 passengers were injured after a man stabbed several passengers on a subway train before starting a fire. The incident happened on the Keio train, near the Kokuryo station at about 20:00 local time as many people were on their way to Halloween parties and events. While not all of the victims were stabbed, three people are were seriously wounded. After stabbing commuters on the vehicle, the man poured a liquid in the subway and set it afire as passengers attempted to exit the train through doors and windows. After the attack, the man was seen sitting on a seat in the train smoking a cigarette before being arrested.  

Witnesses say that the attacker appeared to have been wearing a Halloween costume resembling the Joker from DC Comic's Batman franchise. He was reportedly wearing a purple suit jacket, bright purple suit vest, and green shirt. This is the second subway knife attack in Tokyo in 2 months.  

The attacker has been identified as a 24-year-old man, though further details have not yet been released. Japanese media outlets say that the man is currently under investigation on suspicion of attempted murder, and that the motive behind the attack is not clear. Nippon Television reported that the suspect told police he wanted to kill people to receive a death penalty, citing an earlier train stabbing case as an example.

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