A man sprayed an unknown substance at a luxury shopping mall in Tokyo's Ginza district on Monday, May 25, 2026.
The incident triggered a chemical scare in one of the city's most affluent shopping areas, causing widespread panic and necessitating a large-scale emergency response.
Tokyo police spokesman Yusuke Koide said a man sprayed a substance at an ATM on the ground floor of the building [1]. The event led to reports of a pungent odor throughout the complex [2].
Authorities are managing conflicting reports on the number of casualties. One police spokesperson said 25 people are feeling unwell [2], while other reports indicate around 20 people were injured [3].
Emergency responders arrived at the scene as roads around the building were blocked off [4]. Witnesses said people were taken away on stretchers [4], though some reports specify that two people were seen being taken into ambulances [5].
Police have not yet identified the man responsible or the specific nature of the substance used. The motive for the attack remains unknown as investigators treat the site as a suspected chemical incident [6].
Local authorities have not released further details regarding the health status of those affected, or whether any arrests have been made following the spraying [1].
“"A man sprayed a substance at an ATM on the ground floor of the building."”
This incident highlights the vulnerability of high-traffic public spaces to 'chemical scare' tactics, where the psychological impact of a pungent odor can cause mass panic and medical distress even before the toxicity of a substance is confirmed. The rapid mobilization of emergency services in the Ginza district reflects Tokyo's heightened sensitivity to public safety threats in crowded urban centers.
