Photo/Illutration Fukuoka prefectural police officers at a news conference on Dec. 19 in Kita-Kyushu (Soichiro Yamamoto)

KITA-KYUSHU—Police on Dec. 19 arrested an unemployed man in connection with a stabbing attack at a McDonald’s restaurant here that killed a female junior high school student and injured a male classmate.

The suspect, Masanori Hirabaru, 43, lives in the city’s Kokura-Minami Ward near the site where Saaya Nakajima, 15, was killed.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder the male student, also 15. Hirabaru is also being investigated in the murder of Nakajima. 

According to police, he has admitted to his involvement in the attack.

“I did indeed commit such acts,” Hirabaru was quoted as saying.

The incident occurred at McDonald’s 322 Tokuriki Store in the same ward around 8:25 p.m. on Dec. 14.

According to prefectural police, Nakajima and her classmate were standing in line at the cash register when they were attacked.

Nakajima was stabbed in her stomach and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The male student suffered a deep stab wound to his lower back. He reportedly told police he did not know the assailant.

According to police, the attacker entered the restaurant from the east side facing National Road Route 322, one of the two entrances to the outlet.

After the stabbings, the attacker immediately fled through the same entrance and headed north.

The assailant was in the restaurant for less than 30 seconds, and police could not find bystanders who witnessed the attack.

According to investigative sources, security camera footage showed a man matching the description of the attacker, who was wearing yellow sandals.

A 91-member task force was set up at the Kokura-Minami Police Station to find the perpetrator.

Investigators are now trying to determine if Hirabaru had any relationship with the two junior high school students.

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