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.

“We’ve caused you worry, but we are returning to Tokyo now,” Kawaei said. “Thank you very much.”

The attack on the group, whose members are dubbed “idols you can meet” because of their fan events, has rattled people in a nation known for public safety.

Police later arrested an unemployed man, Satoru Umeta, 24, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Iwate prefectural police official Takahiro Fujibayashi said Umeta told investigators that he was not an AKB48 fan and just wanted to commit random murder.