Tokyo shoppers were taken ill after an unknown substance was sprayed at a busy mall in the Ginza district, causing chaos and a major emergency response. The incident occurred at the Ginza Six shopping complex, where a man was seen spraying an unidentified substance around a bank ATM on the first floor.
According to Tokyo police, 20 people fell ill as a result. Footage from Japan's Nippon TV showed dozens of emergency responders at the scene, including a responder in a hazmat suit wiping what appeared to be a stain on a wall. Roads around the mall were blocked off, with fire trucks lining the streets.
One reporter observed two people on stretchers being placed into an ambulance, while hazmat suit-wearing responders entered the shopping centre. A 70-year-old woman who was at the mall told AFP that as she walked near the ATM where the spray was deployed, her throat started 'stinging'. She added: 'By the time I arrived, the commotion had already started, and I thought there might have been a small fire or something. Once I went into the ATM corner, my throat felt scratchy, almost numb.'
Police are currently investigating the incident. The motive behind the spraying remains unclear, and authorities are working to identify the substance used. This event echoes a similar incident in 2024, when four people were injured after being sprayed with an 'unknown substance' at the University of Greenwich in the UK. In that case, the substance was later found to be non-toxic, but the incident caused significant alarm.
The Ginza Six mall, located in Tokyo's upscale shopping district, is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The area was cordoned off for several hours as emergency services conducted their investigation and decontamination procedures. Authorities have urged anyone who was in the vicinity at the time of the incident to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms.
