U.S. man arrested over pepper spray attack at Chiba shopping mall

Is this the whole article? The last sentence is a weird way to end it.

Is this the whole article? The last sentence is a weird way to end it.

Most likely an AI translation of a newsflash initial report, but JT never followed up on the “details to follow as the story develops” part.

Suspect this fellow won't be eating again at this restaurant anytime soon, smoking inside is illegal but no justification for such extreme action, that harmed so many people needlessly.

I'm assuming it was the sprayer who was smoking. But, it's not 100% clear. Not very well written , especially for an organization like the AP.

The 51-year-old self-described consultant, who lives in the prefecture, is accused of spraying two men, aged 69 and 72, in the face 

A 51 year old needed to use pepper spray on these two old guys? lol

Carrying/posessing Pepper Spray for self defense is an illegal act in Japan.

Similar to knives and anything else that they can define as a "weapon" a valid reason must exist, such a protection from wildlife or officially transporting cash.

Using it in a parking lot and causing harm to many others (really hard to use precisely in an opwn area with wind) is going to get this guy into a heap of legal trouble.

I agree.

This article is poorly written with important details missing such as; what led to the argument in the first place, who exactly was smoking and where, etc.

Using pepper spray on two 70 year olds by someone who is 50 years old seems a bit too much, but again details are missing. I am guessing this act could be enough cause (in the eyes of the cops/prosecutors) for the American to be deported.

womp womp…

I eat my words. JT did do a follow up report.

Believe it was an individual, who was correctly upset about the smoker that escalated matters in a manner that's totally unacceptable with "pepper spray", but agreed the article is indeed not easy to read.

Everyone needs to take a deep 'breath', accept that bad behavior happens. "Gaman" important, cannot let a 'bad apple' like this smoker cause people to lose their minds, and same applies in all life, even during stressful periods

Many difficult things are happening that we all have no control over, both inside and outside of Japan, so focus on what you can control and seek to get the best results!

Even after editing with updated details, it still doesn't state who was smoking.

@garypen

it was written by Kyodo. Yes, incomplete and poorly written.

No idea how 44 people could be affected in an outdoor parking lot unless they were all piling on top of this guy as he was spraying. Still hard to believe even if it was in an underground parking garage, but a little more plausible.

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1934235

Japanese article makes it clear that the suspect was the smoker.

Believe it was an individual, who was correctly upset about the smoker that escalated matters in a manner that's totally unacceptable with "pepper spray", but agreed the article is indeed not easy to read.

Whatever.

One video I saw seemed to be saying that the two guys were smoking near Lin Ju's car, and they got into an argument.

One video I saw seemed to be saying that the two guys were smoking near Lin Ju's car, and they got into an argument.

Read the above article. The suspect was smoking. No seeming about it.

Read the above article. The suspect was smoking. No seeming about it.

I've read the article a couple of times and can't see where it says the suspect was smoking.

@Japan Glimpsed

Read the above article. The suspect was smoking. No seeming about it.

You have it backwards. The article you linked clearly says the two older men were smoking near/by Lin's car, which angered Lin resulting in him pepper spraying them.

Twelve bystanders taken to the hospital by ambulance?

Really. On stretchers? Seems a little extreme...

Really. On stretchers? Seems a little extreme...

This is Japan.