At least 19 people were stabbed to death by a man with a knife early Tuesday at a facility for disabled people in Japan, NBC News reported.
The Kyodo news agency reported that as many as 19 people had died. Between 20 and 45 others were injured, according to various local reports.
The stabbings occurred early Tuesday morning at Tsukui Yayayurien — a facility with 160 residents — in Sagamihara, west of Tokyo, Shiny Sakuma, Director of Health and Welfare for Kanagawa Prefecture, told reporters during a news conference.
Sakuma identified the alleged killer as a former employee, Satoshi Uematsu. Public broadcaster NHK reported that Uematus is 26.
Shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday local time, Sakuma said, Uematsu allegedly broke into the facility by shattering a window. National broadcaster and NBC News partner Nippon TV reported that he then tied up a staff member, stole a set of keys and began entering rooms and stabbing residents.
Citing police sources, one of Japan's largest daily newspapers, Asahi Shimbun, quoted the suspect saying "All disabled should cease to exist."
