According to official statements, the suspect, a member of the Self-Defense Force (SDF), allegedly employed an automatic weapon to target three individuals at a military shooting range in Gifu City at around 9 a.m. Immediate medical assistance was provided, and the injured individuals were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, two of the victims succumbed to their injuries.

General Yasunori Morishita, the Ground SDF Chief of Staff, addressed the media and disclosed that the alleged shooter had recently joined the service in April. The victims, identified as instructors, were specifically targeted. General Morishita assured the public that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted by the police to determine the causes and prevent any future recurrence.

“We will investigate the cause of the incident to ensure that it doesn't happen again,” stated General Morishita during the media briefing.

The victims included a man in his 50s and two individuals in their 20s. Thankfully, no civilian casualties were reported, as per information provided by public broadcaster NHK.

Shootings of this nature are exceedingly rare in Japan, where stringent regulations govern gun ownership, and individuals must undergo a rigorous vetting process to obtain firearms.

This tragic incident follows the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July, when he was fatally shot with a homemade gun. The suspect involved in that case had a previous affiliation with the Maritime SDF.

Additionally, the Self-Defense Force faced another setback in April, as a helicopter crash off the coast of Okinawa claimed the lives of 10 crew members.

Authorities remain committed to thoroughly investigating this incident and implementing measures to prevent any future occurrences. (ILKHA)