A man sprayed a tear-gas-like substance at the Mitsui Sumitomo Bank Ginza branch in Tokyo on Monday, causing 25 people to report feeling unwell [1].
The incident triggered a massive emergency response in one of the city's busiest commercial districts, highlighting the vulnerability of high-traffic financial hubs to sudden chemical attacks.
The event occurred around 12 p.m. at a branch located in a commercial facility approximately 600 meters north of Shimbashi Station [1]. Emergency services responded with a large contingent, including about 100 personnel from the fire department and police [1]. Witness accounts described dozens of emergency vehicles filling the surrounding roads [1].
Paramedics entered the scene wearing gas masks to treat those affected [1]. One passerby said their throat still felt scratchy 30 minutes after the incident [1]. Police established regulation lines around the area to secure the perimeter [1].
Ambulances had largely cleared the scene just after 2:30 p.m. [1]. However, police vehicles remained present at the location as late as 3:45 p.m. [1]. The suspect, identified only as a male, fled the scene and his identity has not been disclosed [1].
Authorities have not yet reported a motive for the attack [1]. The bank branch façade was reportedly covered with a blue sheet during the investigation [1].
“25 people reported feeling unwell after a suspect deployed a chemical irritant”
This incident underscores the security challenges facing urban financial centers in Japan. The deployment of a chemical irritant in a crowded district like Ginza demonstrates how a single individual can disrupt major commercial activity and strain emergency resources, requiring specialized equipment like gas masks for first responders.
