Two soldiers dead in Japan military facility shooting

Two Japanese soldiers were killed and another injured after a new recruit opened fire at a military training range in central Japan, officials says.

An 18-year-old trainee was detained on the spot and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. They allege the male shooter fired his rifle at colleagues during a shooting drill in Gifu on Wednesday.

A 25-year-old man was among those killed, authorities said. Details about the other victims, in their 20s and 50s, are not yet known. No civilians were involved, Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force said. They said the shooting had occurred during a live-fire training for new members and potential candidates but did not reveal further information about the suspect – who is believed to be a new recruit.

Gun violence remains extremely rare in Japan, but there have been some notable incidents in the past year.

(BBC)