A man who knifed four people on the street during a rampage in central Tokyo Tuesday morning was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The four were hospitalized with minor injuries.
Police said the man, believed to be a 49-year-old former yakuza, allegedly started attacking people with two knives during rush hour at an intersection near Tokyo Metro's Toyocho subway station in Koto Ward at around 8:15 a.m.
The man told investigators that he "heard a voice inside telling me to stab people," police said, adding that he brought the knives from his home.
The intersection is close to an elementary school, post office and businesses.
According to police, the man yelled as he wounded two people in front of a convenience store across the street from Toyocho Station. He then crossed the street in the direction of the station and wounded two others.
Witnesses said the man was yelling as he brandished the knives as passersby ran around trying to escape.
