Driver rams barrier near Israeli embassy in Tokyo, injures police officer

Police in Tokyo, Japan have arrested a man for allegedly driving a van into a barrier set up outside of the entrance of the Israeli embassy in the city.

A 53-year-old man reportedly has been arrested in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday after driving his vehicle into a barrier outside the Israeli embassy there. 

The crash – which police say was caused by a suspect belonging to a right-wing organization – left a police officer in his 20s with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Reuters. 

Israel’s ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen wrote in a post on X that he was "shocked by the suspected vehicular ramming attack on a police officer on guard near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo.

"This matter is under investigation by the local police. I would like to express gratitude to the Japanese government and Tokyo Police for their commitment to ensuring our security," he added. "Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured police officer." 

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Images taken from the scene showed a small van with its front passenger side mangled after striking the barrier. 

The crash happened in an area near the embassy that has been the site of a few pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent weeks, Reuters reports. 

The news agency also cited residents as saying that police have increased security in the area since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7. 

ISRAELI EMBASSY WORKER STABBED IN CHINA BY FOREIGN NATIONAL, AUTHORITIES SAY 

The crash comes about a month after an Israeli embassy employee was stabbed outside his workplace in China, according to Chinese and Israeli authorities.

The 50-year-old man, described as a family member of an Israeli diplomat, was attacked upon exiting the Beijing embassy on Oct. 13. 

"The employee was transferred to hospital and he is in a stable condition," the Israeli government said in a statement. 

Beijing police have arrested a suspect in the stabbing, whom they describe as a 53-year-old foreigner. 

The motive for that attack is unclear. 

Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report. 

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