• Approximately 20 people were injured in a Tokyo shopping mall incident.
• A man sprayed a substance at an ATM on the ground floor.
• Local officials report injuries appear to be light.
• An eyewitness described a stinging sensation in her throat.
• The incident led to a police investigation and blocked roads in the area.

About 20 people were injured at a luxury shopping complex in central Tokyo on Monday after a man sprayed an unidentified substance inside, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.

The Tokyo police reported that the spraying occurred at an ATM located on the ground floor of the building. Local fire department officials confirmed the injuries were primarily the result of a concerning smell. Roads surrounding the mall, situated in the upscale Ginza shopping district, were blocked off while fire trucks responded, yet shoppers continued to use side entrances, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

Eyewitness accounts illustrate the chaotic scene; for instance, a 70-year-old woman mentioned her throat began “stinging and hurting” as she neared the ATM area, describing sensations of scratchiness and numbness. Emergency responders utilized specialized trucks to assess those affected, with public broadcaster NHK indicating that injuries seemed to be minor, according to Channel News Asia and CBS News.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the precise nature and source of the substance sprayed. Although violent crime is rare in Japan, this event raises public safety concerns reminiscent of previous attacks involving harmful substances, as highlighted by South China Morning Post and CBS News.