TOKYO (AP, India Times) — A 22-year-old South Korean sociology student was arrested on Friday at Hosei University’s Tama campus in Tokyo following a violent incident in which she allegedly attacked several of her classmates with a hammer, resulting in eight students sustaining minor injuries. The incident unfolded during a class, with the suspect attacking a male student initially, before striking others in succession.

The Tokyo metropolitan police reported that the suspect expressed feelings of "frustration" after enduring perceived bullying and being ignored by her peers. According to her statement to investigators, she used a hammer that she found on the campus grounds. Eyewitness accounts describe her as swinging the hammer "aimlessly," without appearing to target any specific individual, which caused panic among the 150 students present in the classroom at the time.

Reports indicate that multiple students exhibited visible injuries immediately after the attack, prompting swift police action that led to her arrest on-site. An alarming account from a student revealed that “everyone ran away” in fear as the attack occurred. Another witness mentioned that the suspect's face appeared “expressionless,” adding to the confusion and terror of the moment.

Hosei University released a statement confirming that while the eight students received medical attention, none required hospitalization. The university pledged to cooperate with police as investigations continue and emphasized the need to enhance campus safety measures in light of the shocking event.

Violence in Japanese universities is relatively rare, but this incident highlights ongoing societal issues, including bullying and discrimination, particularly against Korean students stemming from historical tensions between Korea and Japan. Previous violent episodes in Japan include a series of stabbings, such as a tragic incident in December 2023 leading to the death of a junior high school student and another case involving stabbings outside the University of Tokyo in 2022.

As investigations continue, the university community remains on high alert, grappling with the aftermath of this unexpected and disturbing incident.

For further details, visit the full articles on AP News and India Times.