An 86-year-old man has been arrested after taking two women hostage at a post office near Tokyo on Tuesday after eight hours standoff with police on Tuesday.
The ordeal began in the city of Warabi, just north of the capital, when authorities received reports of a man who appeared to be armed and had taken two women hostage during the afternoon.
Police took swift action and stormed the post office after one of the hostages was released, and the other managed to escape. Thankfully, both women emerged from the situation unharmed.
Loal media showed images of the elderly man wearing a track suit top and white shirt, standing just inside the post office while brandishing what seemed to be a pistol.
The motivations behind the post office hostage-taking remains unclear as Police have not released an official statement regarding the event.
Violent crime, particularly involving firearms, is a rare occurrence in Japan.
The country enforces strict regulations, including thorough background checks and mental health evaluations for gun owners.
Aspiring gun owners are required to obtain permits, attend safety and law classes, pass written tests, and complete a full-day training course on safe shooting techniques.
