Crime One of Japan's most wanted dies in hospital

[thomas]

When a man with terminal stomach cancer was admitted to a hospital in Kamakura in early January under the name Hiroshi Uchida, he disclosed his real name to the hospital staff, saying, "In the end, I want to die as 'Kirishima Satoshi.'" Kirishima had been a long-wanted suspect in a series of bomb attacks targeting significant companies in 1974 and 1975. His mug shot had been posted at many kobans for decades:

The man provided information during questioning by police that only Kirishima himself could have known, including details about the attacks and his family background. He was also found to have lived and worked at a construction company in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, under the name Uchida, for about 40 years. The man died on 29 January. Police conducted DNA tests on him and several of his relatives.

Police then determined that Hiroshi Uchida was indeed Satoshi Kirishima. Kirishima was a member of "sasori" (scorpion) unit at the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front, an extremist group tied to a series of bombings in the 1970s. He had been a fugitive for almost 50 years since the bombings and was placed on the National Police Agency's list of wanted persons of importance. After coming forward, Kirishima told police, "I had worked day-labor jobs in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, before living and working at the construction company in Fujisawa," He said that he had not been in contact with members of the extremist group and that he had lived alone throughout his half-century of life on the run. The extremist group claimed responsibility for 12 bombings targeting general contractors and other organizations in the mid-1970s, including a blast at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. that killed eight people. Kirishima is suspected of being involved in bombing at a building of the Economic Research Institute of Korea in Tokyo's Ginza district in April 1975. He was placed on the wanted list the following month.

Dead man confirmed to be 1970s fugitive Kirishima | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Kirishima is suspected of helping plant and detonate a homemade bomb that destroyed part of a building in Tokyo's Ginza district on 18 April 1975, according to local media. There were no casualties. At the time, he belonged to the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front, a radical, left-wing organisation believed to be behind several bombings against companies in Japan's capital Tokyo in the 70s - including one targeting a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries building which left eight dead and more than 160 injured. Kirishima is alleged to have been involved in four other attacks the group carried out. Two other members were sentenced to death for their involvement in attacks.

DNA test confirms dying man was Japan's most wanted - BBC News

Alleged bomber Satoshi Kirishima's deathbed confession came after 49 years on the run.

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