On June 8 2001 37-year old Mamoru Takamu entered a primary school in the Japanese city of Ikeda in Osaka prefecture. Wielding a knife he stabbed and slashed 23 people, 8 of whom died of their wounds. Almost all victims were 6 and 7-year olds.

The viscious attack shocked the nation and elicited calls for better security at schools and stricter rules for people with psychological problems who are on medicine and have a history of violent problems, after it became known Takamu had a police record of previous attacks but was released because he was taking medicine.

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