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Tokyo Killer Warned of Slaughter Online

Posted 'It's time' 20 minutes before rampage that killed 7

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 9, 2008 9:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – The young man accused of killing 7 people in a knife rampage in downtown Tokyo warned of the attacks in a series of messages to an Internet bulletin board, reports the AP. Tomohiro Kato, who rammed his truck into pedestrians before stabbing 17 of them, posted warnings from his cell phone, including one only 20 minutes before the attack that read simply, "It's time."

A woman offers a prayer for the victims of the Sunday stabbing rampage at Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district Monday, June 9, 2008.
A woman offers a prayer for the victims of the Sunday stabbing rampage at Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district Monday, June 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
People help injured victims of stabbing spree in Akihabara district of Tokyo Sunday, June 8, 2008.
People help injured victims of stabbing spree in Akihabara district of Tokyo Sunday, June 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
A photograph of Tomohiro Kato, who plowed into shoppers with a truck and then stabbed 17 people within minutes.
A photograph of Tomohiro Kato, who plowed into shoppers with a truck and then stabbed 17 people within minutes.   (AP Photo/High school album photo via Kyodo News)
A rescue worker of the Tokyo Fire Department carries a stretcher at the crime scene in Tokyo's Akihabara district Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2008.
A rescue worker of the Tokyo Fire Department carries a stretcher at the crime scene in Tokyo's Akihabara district Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
People walk in Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district, one day after a man killed seven people in a knifing rampage at a nearby intersection.
People walk in Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district, one day after a man killed seven people in a knifing rampage at a nearby intersection.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Women console each other near the spot of Sunday stabbing rampage at Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district Monday, June 9, 2008.
Women console each other near the spot of Sunday stabbing rampage at Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district Monday, June 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
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