Former Member Of Japan’s Self Defense Forces Commit Suicide Detonating Explosives

At least three people were injured in a park north of Tokyo after a former member of Japan’s Self Defense Forces detonated an explosive on Sunday for committing suicide while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was making a speech in capital Tokyo about the controversial new defense laws of the country at a military review.

Initial report does not link the two events as it is still unsure whether both are directly connected.

According to Kyodo News service of the country, the man has been identified by the police as Toshikatsu Kurihara. He was 72.

Witnesses said an explosion was heard in the park and thereafter a man engulfed in flames was seen. Several cars were also found burning in a nearby parking lot. Three were injured from flying debris and were 64, 58, 14-year-old.

Police has found a suicide note too on Kurihara’s body. However, the note was not released, but was said it expressed anxieties related to family matters.

The incident occurred 60 miles north of Tokyo in Utsunomiya, home to the Central Readiness Regiment, at around 11:30 a.m. local time.

Suicides with explosives are rare in Japan as such substances are tightly controlled in the country.