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Daily Yomiuri On-Line

Gun-related crimes mark 10-year high

Yomiuri Shimbun

Violent crimes involving the use of guns nationwide increased
in the first half of this year to mark their highest figure in
a decade, National Police Agency officials said Thursday.
According to the agency, gun-related crimes, including murder,
robbery, infliction of injury and blackmail, totaled 93 cases
in the January-June period, up six cases from the same period
last year.
Of these, murder and attempted murder cases increased from 16
to 29, with the number of people shot to death doubling from
last year's 10 cases. Of the 20 deaths, the number of victims
not connected with gangs increased to 12 from last year's
eight.
The number of individuals injured by guns totaled 20, up four
from last year.
Yakuza blood feuds involving shootings also increased
considerably, rising from 66 cases to 131.
The statistics included civilians who were shot to death by
unidentified individuals, including the recent murder of an
operator of a building contractor's office who is believed to
have been killed at his home in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, by
someone posing as a parcel deliveryman.
Police said the number of firearms confiscated totaled 609,
nearly 200 more than last year. Among those confiscated,
Russian Makarov pistols numbered 81, five times as many as
last year.
Police are investigating how the weapons were smuggled into
the country from Russia.

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