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Two people have died following a knife attack inside the flagship Pokémon Center in Tokyo on the evening of 26 March. A man wielding two knives fatally stabbed a female retail worker before turning the weapons on himself at the Mega Tokyo location, situated in the Higashi-ikebukuro district.

The incident began at 7.15pm within the Sunshine City complex. Police were quickly inundated with emergency calls to 110, the Japanese national dispatch number, following reports of an active stabbing. Emergency responders discovered the female worker, who was in her 20s, and the man lying unconscious on the shop floor. They were transported to a medical facility, but Japanese media report both individuals were sadly declared dead by the time they reached the hospital.

Mega Tokyo Pokémon Center Stabbing Under Investigation

According to onlookers and preliminary information from investigators, the man walked into the store holding a knife in each hand. Reports indicate he then went on a rampage within the premises. This disruption resulted in the direct stabbing of the young shop worker.

Immediately following the assault, reports state the man turned the knives on himself and cut his own throat. Emergency medical personnel found both individuals entirely unresponsive inside the shop. The Mega Tokyo branch is recognised globally as the largest of its kind and acts as the brand's primary flagstone location.

Attacker And Female Employee Dead After Assault

Footage currently circulating on Japanese social media appears to show the immediate aftermath just outside the storefront. In the recorded clips, several people can be seen fleeing the area as retail staff usher remaining bystanders to safety. Parts of the store appear visibly upended and messy, matching witness accounts of the earlier rampage.

In the distance of the circulated video, a figure dressed in dark clothing can be seen lying on the ground. Observers suggest this individual is likely the attacker due to the dark garments, though there is currently no definitive proof that the footage legitimately depicts the scene itself.

Unconfirmed Stalker Motive In Pokémon Center Stabbing

Japanese news outlets are trying to establish if the two knew each other prior to the attack. Some initial speculation suggests the man might have been a stalker whose behaviour went haywire, though no official source has confirmed this link yet.

Right now, the only certainty is the sudden loss of a young woman's life. The tragedy is especially stark given it took place in a shop meant to be filled with joy and happiness.