Japanese man injures 17 in knife attack on Tokyo train

A 24-year-old man attacked passengers on a Tokyo train line on Sunday evening.

As many as 17 people were injured as they headed for Halloween parties in the city.

Witnesses say the suspect was wearing a green shirt and purple suit in what appeared to be a Joker costume.

He sprayed a clear liquid around the carriage and set it alight. Video footage showed passengers running through carriages away from the flames.

"I thought it was a Halloween stunt," one witness told the Yomiuri newspaper about the attack. "Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife."

The attack happened at around 20:00 local time (11:00 GMT) near Kokuryo station, in the city's western suburbs. Eyewitnesses said the suspect was wearing a bright purple and green suit.

Media reports say the man was arrested by police on the spot.