Police search for perpetrator of Asaminami “acid” attack

Police are searching for a man who sprayed a man in his 60s in the face with an orange liquid, thought to be toluene, causing burns to his face and severe eye pain. A woman and her daughter who were nearby were also taken to hospital feeling unwell.

The incident occurred in Omachi Higashi, in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward at around 5:30 p.m. on April 16. The assailant was unknown to the victims and they were sprayed as the attacker walked past them.

RCC News reports toluene is designated by the health ministry as a hazardous substance, that can affect the central nervous system on inhalation.

Police are searching for the assailant, described as a man in his 30s, about 160 centimeters tall, wearing white clothes, who fled the scene.

UPDATE

UPDATE

Local news are now reporting the 69-year-old male primary victim of the attack has been arrested on fraud charges.

The man, a resident of Osaka, is alleged to have swindled a woman out of 13 million yen, and the attack occurred just 30 minutes after he received the money in cash at a nearby restaurant in Omachi Higashi.

According to police, he conspired with several others, to pose as an investment company, which sent false messages to the 57-year-old woman via social media. They congratulated her on being selected for a non-existent an IPO that required a payment to be finalized. The man then posed as a field representative to conduct the cash transaction.

It was soon after the transaction took place that the fraudster was attacked. Police are investigating whether there is a connection between the two crimes.