TOKYO, April 2 (Xinhua) – In a landmark move to strengthen national security, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on Tuesday officially launched Japan’s first specialized unit dedicated to combating lone-wolf terrorism—attacks carried out by individuals unaffiliated with any organized group.
The newly established unit will focus on preventing and investigating potential acts of violence targeting high-profile individuals and critical infrastructure.
“There is an urgent need to implement robust countermeasures against lone-offender terrorism,” said MPD Superintendent-General Yuji Sakoda at the inauguration ceremony. He highlighted major upcoming events, such as the World Exposition in Osaka and the House of Councillors election later this year, as potential security concerns.
The decision to create the unit follows a string of high-profile attacks in recent years, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 and the bomb attack targeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2023.
The move underscores growing concerns in Japan over the evolving nature of security threats, especially those posed by individuals acting independently and outside the scope of traditional terrorist networks.
-Agency
