Police raided several locations Thursday related to security companies that handled crowd control at last month's fireworks display in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, where 11 people were fatally crushed and 185 others hurt on an overcrowded pedestrian overpass.
According to Hyogo Prefectural Police, the investigation into alleged professional negligence resulting in death and injury focuses on Nisikan, a Fukuoka-based security company that was in charge of crowd control at the Akashi event on the night of July 21. Offices of subcontracting firms were also searched Thursday.
Investigators suspect Nisikan failed to take sufficient safety precautions in directing the crowd after the fireworks ended, leading to excessive congestion on the overpass, which linked the shoreline fireworks site with the nearest train station.
The ensuing crush killed 11 people, including nine children.