Police have arrested an 18-year-old girl on suspicion of attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old friend at a convenience store in Ibaraki Prefecture.

The victim, a first-year high school student, was stabbed once in the abdomen with a fruit knife. She is conscious but seriously wounded, the prefectural police said Saturday.

Her alleged attacker, a third-year student from the same school, carried out the assault at a Lawson outlet in Kamisu, where they both reside, at around 1:25 p.m. Saturday.

When police questioned the older girl at the scene after receiving an emergency call, she admitted stabbing her friend, police said.

According to the store manager, the suspect began working there about two months ago. Police said they don't know the motive for the attack.