On a fire range on a Japanese army installation on Wednesday, an 18-year-old army recruit shot three other troops, killing two of them, according to officials.At the site in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu, the suspect was detained on suspicion of attempted murder, according to police.
At the Hino Kihon firing range, a shooting drill was taking place when the suspect allegedly shot a rifle at other soldiers. A 25-year-old soldier is one of the three injured, according to the police.
Two of those injured were later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Ground Self Defence Force, the army of Japan.
An army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity and cited procedure said that facts are still being investigated but that it is thought that several other persons were taking part in the training at the time of the shooting.
Although Japan has stringent gun control regulations and a reputation for safety, high-profile acts of violence, such as shootings, random stabbings on subways, and arson attacks, have occurred recently. As a result, there is growing concern about improvised bombs and guns.