Four people were attacked, three of whom were severely wounded, in separate robberies carried out early Monday by four young men on two motorcycles in northern Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture.
Police suspect the same group is responsible for the day's attacks and similar robberies in northern Tokyo earlier this month. According to investigators, a 46-year-old construction worker was attacked by four men at around 12:30 a.m. on a street in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture.
The assailants stole the man's wallet, which held 18,000 yen in cash, and fled on two motorcycles, police said.
At around 1 a.m., shop clerk Kazuhiro Sato, 24, was approached from behind by four men on two motorcycles as he rode his bicycle in Tokyo's Kita Ward. The four demanded money, stabbed Sato in the stomach and back, then rode off with his wallet, which contained 6,500 yen, police said.
The four also attacked Yosuke Harada, 30, a corporate worker who happened to pass by after Sato called out for help. He was slashed in the chest and had his handbag stolen.
About 15 minutes later, a 56-year-old man was threatened at knifepoint by four men on motorbikes and robbed of 5,000 yen. He was unharmed. The victims said the assailants looked to be in their late teens or around 20 years old.