At just before 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, a woman in her 30s made an emergency call reporting that a substance had been dispersed inside a JR Tokaido Line train traveling near Tokyo. The woman, her husband, and their 1-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital, but none suffered serious injuries. Another 10 passengers complained of feeling unwell.
JR Tokaido Line Suspended for Two Hours
More than 20 emergency vehicles were dispatched to Kawasaki Station, where the train was brought to a stop. While other passengers in the same train car as the family reported noticing a strange pepper-like smell, it remained unclear whether any substance had actually been sprayed. Firefighters who inspected the train detected no harmful gas.
According to railway operator JR East, the train departed from Odawara Station in Kanagawa Prefecture and was bound for Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture. The emergency call was made while the train was traveling between Yokohama and Kawasaki stations. Inbound Tokaido Line services between Yokohama and Shinagawa stations were subsequently suspended for approximately two and a half hours.
Police Find No Evidence of Spray; Investigation Ongoing
Emergency personnel wearing protective equipment were seen inspecting the affected train after it arrived at Kawasaki Station as authorities worked to determine the source of the reported odor. Police reviewed security camera footage and other video recordings, but found no evidence that any spray had been dispersed. The nature of the substance remains unknown.
Reports of unusual odors or suspicious substances aboard trains in Japan typically trigger large emergency responses because of concerns over potential chemical exposure in crowded public transportation systems. Authorities had not announced any arrests as of Sunday evening and were continuing to investigate the incident.
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AloJapan.com