String of Violent Crimes Reported in Kiryat Ata and Tochigi Prefecture
A series of violent crimes has unnerved residents of Kiryat Ata, Israel, and Nasu Town in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The tragic events span multiple incidents and have resulted in several fatalities and ongoing investigations.
In Kiryat Ata, a 23-year-old local man, Ben Mikkel, was found stabbed to death in a motel on Yoseftal Street on March 24, 2023. Medical crews pronounced him dead at the scene, and Superintendent Danny Levy assigned the case to the crime fighting unit of Merhav Asher. This tragic incident follows on the heels of another disturbing event, where a woman in her twenties was raped near the IKEA complex in Kiryat Ata. She reported the assault to the Bnei Zion Medical Center in Haifa, which runs a dedicated center for victims of sexual assault.
Further adding to the city’s turmoil, an unnamed 20-year-old man known to police was shot to death near a kiosk on Shibat Zion Street. Medical examiners pronounced him dead at the scene after trying to resuscitate him. That same night, another young man, Ofek Neve, a 20-year-old motorcyclist, was shot dead in Rishon Lezion. He was found unconscious, and despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
String of Murders in Tochigi Prefecture: The Plot Unfolds
In Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, the Metropolitan Police Department has re-arrested two suspects in connection with the gruesome murders of company executive Ryutaro Takarajima (55) and his wife Sachiko Takarajima (56). The suspects, Kang Mitsunori, a 20-year-old unemployed Korean national, and former actor Yoto Wakayama, were initially arrested along with four others last month for mutilating the couple’s bodies.
Based on security footage and statements, it is alleged that Kang and another suspect, Hikaru Sasaki, carried out the murders under the direction of Ayaken Hirayama, who orchestrated the crime. Explicitly, Kang accepted the job out of fear, while Wakayama claimed he did not enter the garage where the murders took place. The suspects reportedly received 5 million yen for the crime, which they squandered on entertainment and luxury goods. The Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate the full extent of their involvement and how they shared roles in the crime.
- Superintendent Danny Levy has mentioned that while the investigation into Ben Mikkel’s murder is still in its infancy, efforts are ramping up to solve the case swiftly. Citizens of Kiryat Ata are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
- In Tochigi Prefecture, the re-arrest has brought some relief to the local community. However, the Metropolitan Police Department is working meticulously to uncover all angles and bring justice to the victims' families. Public cooperation has been requested to bolster the investigation.
