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2 Killed in Tokyo Gang Shoot-Out
Two gangsters were killed, one was left in critical condition and four others were injured in a shoot-out with rightists on Monday after 15 or 16 knife-wielding gang members broke into a right-wing group office in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, police said.
Armed with knives and swords, the gangsters--all of whom are members of groups affiliated to the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate--raided the office of the Sofusha rightist group, located on the fourth floor of a seven-story building in the ward's Kojimachi business district at about 3:20 p.m. Three Sofusha members then opened fire on them, police said.
Police identified the two killed as Tetsuo Nagashima, 52, and Hideo Takahi,49. Both were leaders of gangs affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai. The two were among seven taken to six hospitals in Tokyo after the shootings. One of the wounded was a Sofusha member.
Police seized two handguns and swords and arrested three Sofusha members,including Sofusha Chairman Ryuji Otsuki, 48, on suspicion of possessing firearms. About 10 gang members fled the scene in automobiles, police said.
The rightist group reportedly had a business tie-up--including cooperation on loan collection--with Sumiyoshi-kai-affiliated gangsters. Police said relations between the rightist group and the gangs soured over how to divide the profits from the loan collection business.
Sofusha was established in 1983. The group, which conducted political activities by deploying a loud-speaker truck demanding the return of four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, had fallen into financial difficulties and told the Tokyo metropolitan government late last month that it would disband. The group, which had 35 members as of late July, is scheduled to vacate its office on Aug. 27.
The rightist group's office is located along Shinjuku-dori avenue near the Hanzomon district, where the Imperial Palace and a residential complex for lawmakers in the House of Councillors are located.
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