Japanese girl band attacked by saw-wielding man

Japan’s hugely popular female pop group AKB48 cancelled fan events after a saw-wielding man attacked two members and a staffer, shocking the nation and raising questions over security.

The two group members, Anna Iriyama, 18, and Rina Kawaei, 19, suffered hand and head injuries, and the male staff member who tried to stop the attack at a fan event in northern Japan had cuts on his hand. All three left the hospital yesterday.

The women, wearing hats and covering their hands with white towels, appeared in front of a huge crowd of reporters outside the hospital and thanked fans for their concern.