A man who went on a stabbing rampage killing seven people in Japan has been executed.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the government had “carried out the death sentence” of Tomohiro Kato, who ran a truck into a busy Tokyo shopping district before knifing his victims in 2008.

Kato had sent thousands of shoppers fleeing as he rammed the rented truck into a group of pedestrians along the main street of the capital’s Akihabara district.

The crime sent shockwaves through the country known for its peaceful way of life.

Kato was sentenced to death for the crime – and his execution was finalised by Japan’s Supreme Court in February 2015.

The top court had dismissed Kato’s appeal against a lower court sentence, describing his actions as “leaving no grounds for leniency”.

The suspect who told police he was “tired of life” said he had gone to Akihabara “to kill people” and he did not care who.

Ukraine war: Mothers and wives of missing Russian servicemen face relentless fight for answers

Suspected gunman among three people killed after shootings in Vancouver, Canada

Ukraine news live: Moldova fears Russian invasion; landmark grain deal in jeopardy; Russia sets date for votes in Ukraine

Along with the seven who were killed, at least 10 people were injured. One of them, was a traffic police officer who was helping the pedestrians run over by Kato’s truck.

The Akihabara district of Tokyo, was known as a centre for the manga comic and anime film subculture.

Laws on knife ownership were tightened up in Japan after Kato’s killing spree.

Related posts:

‘We miss the British’: Eerily quiet Portugal looks ahead to influx of flights tomorrow morning What is a heat dome that’s causing extreme heat and wildfires in Europe? Six men accused of stealing 18th century jewels worth nearly £100m from German museum British man rescued after getting lost in Thai forest for three days Omicron has ‘substantial’ ability to evade immunity from previous COVID infection ATP criticised over ‘fluff’ Peng Shuai response and not joining WTA in suspending tournaments in China Mother ‘put her son in car boot after he tested positive for COVID-19’ to avoid getting infected At least 22 killed as heavy snowfall blocks road to Pakistan mountain resort ‘You cannot segregate people’: Anger in France over Macron’s new COVID restrictions Truckers block Dublin streets in protest over high fuel prices Sri Lanka proposes interim government amid shortages of fuel, food and medicine ‘Thank you Britain’: Ukrainian troops celebrate shooting down Russian drone with UK-made missile