Japan executes man over 2008 Tokyo mass killing

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan on Tuesday executed a man convicted of killing seven people during a stabbing spree in Tokyo in 2008, Japanese media reported.

It is the second execution under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In December last, three persons were executed for multiple murders.

Tomohiro Kato, 39, ran over pedestrians in a vehicle-free zone, killing three and injuring two on June 8, 2008, Kyodo News reported.

After coming out of his vehicle, he stabbed four others with a dagger and injured another eight.

The court finalized its ruling in 2015.

Japan’s Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa said: “The incident had had a significant impact on society as it deprived seven people of their precious lives.”

The order to execute the killer was signed last Friday, the minister said.

Today’s execution had brought down the total number of death-row convicts in Japan to 106.