Staff member stabbed near Fukuoka Dome, HKT48 event cancelled

A man and a woman were stabbed near the Fukuoka Dome in Japan on Sunday evening, with one victim identified as a staff member of idol group HKT48.

The attack occurred at about 5pm local time at the commercial facility "BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA," which houses the HKT48 theater. A 44-year-old man sustained a chest injury and a 27-year-old woman was stabbed in the back. No weapon was found at the scene.

HKT48's management company confirmed the male victim was a staff member and cancelled a scheduled online handshake event. All group members present in the theater office were safely evacuated.

The suspect, described as a man around 160 centimeters tall wearing black clothing, pants, a hat, glasses and a white mask, fled the scene. Police are investigating on suspicion of attempted murder.

The incident caused disruption as the area was crowded with people attending various events, including a Hey! Say! JUMP concert at the nearby dome. Multiple police cars and ambulances converged on the scene, with officers cordoning off the area.