In a shocking incident at a tire factory in central Japan, fifteen individuals were injured, and authorities have apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for a stabbing spree coupled with a chemical attack.

The alleged attacker, a 38-year-old man, targeted employees at the Yokohama Rubber Co. facility in Mishima, situated west of Tokyo. The assault, which took place on Friday, reportedly involved the stabbing of eight people and injuring of seven others with what is suspected to be bleach.

Although the motive behind this violent rampage remains unclear, reports from the Kyodo news agency suggest that the suspect may have previously been employed at the factory. This information comes from sources within the ongoing investigation.

Further details provided by the Japanese newspaper Asahi reveal that the suspect was equipped with a survival knife and donned what seemed to be a gas mask during the attack.

In the aftermath of this unsettling event, police officers have been positioned at the scene of the crime, ensuring the safety and security of the area as they continue their investigation.

The Fujisan Nanto Fire Department told The Associated Press that five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition. 

Images and video taken at the scene showed first responders swarming the factory. 

A police officer stands guard inside the cordon at the Yokohama factory on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP via Getty Images)

Shizuoka prefecture police said the attacker was arrested for alleged attempted murder. 

Media reports described the stabbing victims as all being conscious while being transported to local hospitals.

Fifteen people were injured in a stabbing and chemical attack in central Japan on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP via Getty Images)

The seven others injured by the bleach thrown at them during the attack were hospitalized as well, the fire department said.