10-year-old boy dies after stabbing at Japanese school in China, suspect arrested

The Japanese government announced on Thursday (September 19) that a 10-year-old boy attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen, China, died on Wednesday after being stabbed by an attacker. At a press conference, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the child died in the early hours of Thursday.

The victim was a student at the Shenzhen Japanese School.

Citing Chinese authorities, the Reuters news agency reported that the boy was stabbed on his way to school at around 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Authorities said the 44-year-old attacker was arrested at the scene.

During Thursday's press conference, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa said she takes the incident extremely seriously. “Such a thing should not happen in any country. In particular, I sincerely regret that this heinous act was committed against a child on her way to school,” she said.

Japan has asked China for a detailed explanation of the matter and strict security measures, she added.

Reuters reported that neither Japanese nor Chinese authorities would disclose the victim's nationality. The Shenzhen Japanese School's website shows that the institution is aimed at children of Japanese nationality.

The attack occurred near the school on the anniversary of a 1931 incident that sparked a war between China and Japan. It was the second such attack near a Japanese educational institution in China in recent months.

(With contributions from agencies)