A shocking incident unfolded at a Japanese army base on Wednesday, leaving two soldiers dead and another injured. An 18-year-old trainee opened fire on fellow soldiers during a firing exercise at the Hino Kihon firing range in Gifu prefecture. The suspect, who enlisted in April, was apprehended at the scene and is being investigated for attempted murder.

According to army Chief of Staff Gen. Yasunori Morishita, the victims were acting as instructors during the trainee's shooting practice. The incident has sent shockwaves through Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. Morishita expressed his deep concern, stating, "An organization that handles weapons should never allow an incident like this to happen." He ordered a nationwide halt to exercises involving firearms and explosives while a thorough investigation is conducted and safety protocols are reviewed.

While Japan is generally considered a safe nation with stringent gun control laws, this incident follows a series of disturbing acts of violence in recent years. These include subway stabbings, arson attacks, and growing concerns about homemade weapons. The attempted attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with a pipe bomb in April and the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022 using a homemade gun highlight the evolving security challenges facing the country. Just last month, two police officers were killed in Nagano prefecture by a suspect who also allegedly murdered two women with a knife.