Nine injured as van ploughs into pedestrians in Tokyo

A small van has ploughed into pedestrians celebrating the new year on one of Tokyo’s most famous streets.

Nine people were injured, one seriously, by the attacker who struck in the Harajuku fashion district shortly after midnight.

The street, which was sealed off to traffic, was packed with people heading to a shrine for New Year’s prayers.

BBC reports that the man driving the car fled the scene was but was later arrested by police for attempted murder.

NHK TV footage showed a small van with the entire front end smashed and officers and ambulance workers rushing to the scene.

Police told broadcaster NHK that he initially told then he had conducted a terrorist act, but then later claimed it was related to executions. It was not clear if he was referring to a specific execution or capital punishment in general.