Mass Murderer Wanted Euthanasia for Disabled People

28.07.2016

A 26-year-old who went on the rampage, killing 19 people and injuring 25 at a home for disabled people in Japan, wanted euthanasia legalised for disabled people.

Japanese broadcaster NTV reported that Satoshi Uematsu wrote a letter to the speaker of the lower house of Japan’s parliament recommending euthanising the disabled. In the letter, Uematsu said: “My goal is a world in which, in cases where it is difficult for the severely disabled to live at home and be socially active, they can be euthanised with the consent of their guardians.”

Japan has been shocked by the stabbing incident, which is one of the worst mass killings in the country in more than two decades. The victims are aged between 19 and 70. Many of those who were not killed were seriously injured. All of them were stabbed when they were fast asleep and the suspect turned himself in to the police at about 2.30am local time on Tuesday, July 26.

Condemning the attack, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters: "This is a very heart-wrenching and shocking incident in which many innocent people became victims."

The authorities are still probing the motives of the attacker but local media speculate that Uematsu may have been infuriated by his sacking from the job at the facility for the disabled. A 73-year-old man, a neighbour of the suspect, described Uematsu as a “cheerful” person.

International Business Times. July 26.