Man arrested following string of attacks on women on Tokyo street

A 39-year-old man has been arrested over a physical attack on a woman on a street in Tokyo in October, with police suspecting he is behind a string of other similar attacks that took place on the same evening, according to investigative sources.

Hikaru Hamaguchi was arrested after he allegedly slapped a university student in her 20s across her left cheek while she was walking on a sidewalk in the Jimbocho district of Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward at around 9 p.m. on Oct. 17. Hamaguchi fled by train after the alleged attack but was later apprehended at another station in Tokyo.

The sources said Hamaguchi is suspected of having attacked a total of seven female high school and university students over a period of about 15 minutes, punching some in the abdomen and delivering jumping kicks to others as he walked past them on the street.

The attacks appeared to have been random, and all seven victims are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the possibility that there were additional victims and is looking into the suspect’s motive.

The incidents came to light after police received a series of reports from several victims as well as witnesses of the alleged attacks.