YOKOHAMA - A man wielding a saw assaulted AKB48 during an event in Iwate Prefecture on Sunday afternoon, wounding two members of the all-girl pop group and a male staffer, police said, adding the suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the Japan Times repoerted.
The members were identified by their management office as Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18. It is not known why he attacked the group or whether the two dancers were specifically targeted. Kawaei’s right thumb was cut and fractured as was Iriyama’s right little finger, the management office said, noting they were taken to a hospital and underwent surgery. They also got cuts on their heads, the police said.
The male staffer suffered cuts to his left hand. The man was identified as Satoru Umeta, 24, unemployed, from Towada in neighboring Aomori, the police said. He allegedly assaulted the young performers with a saw, prompting an emergency call that a man with a blade was acting violently in the event hall.
The fan event was got underway in the city of Takizawa at 1 p.m., according to the pop group’s website. The attendees are said to have included Minami Takahashi, one of the group’s most popular members. The all-girl pop group is hugely popular and has inspired sister groups within Japan and abroad, including one in Jakarta called JKT48. Management company AKS released this statement on the AKB48 website, blog, and other sources. ‘Today, Takizawa, Iwate: At a handshake meeting in Iwate Sangyo Bunka Centre Apio for the 33rd Single Electric Heart and 35th Single Mae Shika Mukanee.

AKB48 members Anna Iriyama and Rina Kawaei along with one member of the organizers’ staff were attacked by a blade-wielding fan. They suffered injuries to their hands.
Currently, Iriyama, Kawaei and the staff member are being treated in hospital.
None are in a life-threatening condition.
We deeply apologize for any concern this may have caused to fans. As soon as Iriyama, Kawaei, and the staff member’s conditions are known in more detail we will report again.’
(AKS)
AKB fans have taken to the various news sources’ comments sections demanding to know the name of the assailant, which is currently being withheld. Police have only said the man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Other fans were also keen to learn the name of the male staff member who was injured in the incident, assuming that he was wounded when trying to help the girls. Still details are highly sketchy at the moment and we’ll report more as it becomes clear.