Incident Summary:

03/27/2014: An explosive device detonated in the parking lot of a department store in Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. There were no reported casualties in the attack. In a letter sent to a news outlet in April 2014, an anonymous individual claimed responsibility for this and four similar blasts that took place between January-April, 2014. In the letter, the individual expressed a number of grievances with the local police. In May of 2014, police arrested Sanae Nasukawa in connection with the blasts.

GTD ID:
201403270078

When:
2014-03-27

Country:
Japan

Region:
East Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Hokkaido

City:
Sapporo

Location Details:
The incident occurred in the Kita Ward area of the city.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Department Store
Nationality of Target Japan
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Other Explosive Type
Weapon Details
Five cooking gas canisters and 100 2 cm long nails were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) No
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Other Crime Type
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. An anonymous letter that claimed responsibility for the incident expressed several grievances with the local police.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Anti-Police extremists Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Letter)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Sapporo bombing suspect possibly held grudge against police over separate case," Mainichi, May 2, 2014.
"Kyodo: Gas Canisters Explode At Police Officers' Apartment Building," Kyodo World Service, April 4, 2014.
"Gas cylinder exploded again in the bombings Hokkaido! The second case after his arrest! The crime scene close proximity to both! The suspect in denial even now! Police "That's copycat criminal"," Ashura, May 6, 2014.