The suspect, believed to be in the age range of 50 to 70, entered the post office at 2:15 p.m., the authorities said, adding that two men — a doctor in his 40s and a patient in his 60s — sustained non-life threatening injuries at the hospital.
Authorities are working to confirm whether there are hostages at the post office, where a gunshot was said to be heard.
Helicopter footage from NHK showed several police cars parked around the post office, blocking nearby roads. Officers were seen holding shields as they monitored the situation, the broadcaster reported.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has dispatched a specialized unit that handles hostage situations and incidents involving kidnappings for ransom, according to the broadcaster. The unit is called “SIT,” which stands for Special Investigation Teams.
The city of Toda said in a series of social media posts that the suspect, who is believed to have fled on a motorcycle, is of medium build. He was wearing a black jumper at the time of the incident, the city added.
In a later post, the city asked those close to the post office in Warabi to refrain from unnecessary outings and follow instructions from police officers, including evacuating if directed by authorities.
Police said someone reported a gun being fired at Toda Chuo General Hospital at around 1 p.m.
RHM/PR
