19 hospitalised after irritant spray attack at Tokyo mall

A shopping day turned into panic in Tokyo after at least 19 people were hospitalised following a mysterious “strong smell” incident at the upscale Ginza 6 mall, Tribune Online reports. Authorities say a man sprayed an unknown substance at an ATM area, later believed to be an irritant containing capsaicin, the active compound in chilli peppers. Victims complained of burning throats, itching, and breathing discomfort, triggering a mass emergency response.

Firefighters, police, and hazmat teams rushed to evacuate shoppers as the mall and surrounding roads were cordoned off. Japan’s NHK reports that the suspect is still at large as investigations continue. Officials are treating the incident as a potential targeted attack, though the motive remains unclear, raising fresh security concerns in busy commercial hubs.