TOKYO — A deadly knife attack on a group of mostly schoolgirls near Tokyo this week raised concerns Wednesday over the safety of schoolchildren in Japan, a country known for its low crime rate and where children usually walk to school on their own or in groups. At least 17 people, mostly children at a Catholic school, were injured. “We must do whatever it takes to protect children’s safety,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, urging security officials to increase safety measures to protect commuting schoolchildren. “I feel extreme regret about the extremely harrowing attack that affected many young children.”Abe told police and education officials on Wednesday to reinforce safety measures and patrols to protect schoolchildren across the country. In 2001, a man forced his way into an elementary school in Osaka, stabbing eight children to death and injuring 15 other people, including teachers.

Source: National Post May 29, 2019 04:47 UTC