Tokyo police have arrested a 24-year-old Chinese national on suspicion of spraying a pepper-based irritant at a stranger inside the GINZA SIX mall in Ginza, an attack that injured about 30 people and drew 59 emergency vehicles to the scene.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Ye Shengfeng, a university student from Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on suspicion of injury on October 29. He was charged over the spraying at a bank ATM corner on the mall's first floor around noon on May 25.
The spray hit a man in his 30s in the face, and capsaicin — the compound that gives chili peppers their heat — was detected at the scene. About 30 people nearby were hurt, and 25 of them were taken to hospital complaining of sore throats and other symptoms.
Ye has no acquaintance with any of the victims, according to a reporter from a national newspaper's social affairs desk. He has not admitted or denied the allegations, saying he does not want to talk about the case.
Mask removed after the attack
Ye wore a black face mask during the attack. He took off the mask and his hooded top afterward and fled by subway, suggesting he had prepared in advance to avoid the spray himself.
Surveillance camera analysis led to the arrest. The footage also showed Ye talking with another man near the scene shortly before the attack, and the same man stayed close by during the incident.
Police believe the second man knows something about what happened and are searching for him.
The man in his 30s who was sprayed also left the scene and has told investigators he did not know Ye, according to reports.
Ye left the Tsukiji police station on the morning of October 31 with his long hair tied back. He glared at cameras as photographers' flashes went off.