Kyota Hattori, 24, of Japan has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁) arrested him in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan on October 31, 2021.

At around 8:00 p.m. that day, Hattori went on a stabbing spree on a 10-car train in Tokyo while dressed in a purple Joker costume. Using a Western-style knife with a 30cm blade, which he bought on Amazon, he stabbed a man in the right chest.

The victim was sitting in the eighth car from the front of the train. He is in his 70s.

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Hattori and the victim did not personally know each other. The latter is in critical condition and is still unconscious.

After stabbing the elderly man, Hattori moved to the sixth car from the front, splashed oil on the seats and set them on fire. A total of 16 passengers aged 10 to 69 were injured.

Operated by Keio Corp, the train was bound for Shinjuku, Tokyo, having departed from Keio-hachioji in Hachiōji, Tokyo. It was on a limited express schedule.

Via the Keio-Inokashira Line and the Keio Line, Hattori traveled to Chofu Station in Chofu. Still wearing the Joker costume, he was arrested by Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department officers at Kokuryo Station in Chofu where the train made an emergency stop.

According to police, Hattori said he was inspired by the stabbing rampage that occurred in August 2021on an Odakyu Line train in Tokyo where a man stabbed passengers and injured 10 people. Hattori reportedly said he was inspired by the Joker who is very comfortable with murdering people.

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A supervillain in DC Comics, the Joker is the archenemy of the superhero Batman. Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the supervillain first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book “Batman” on April 25, 1940.

Heath Ledger played the Joker in the Christopher Nolan film “The Dark Knight” opposite Christian Bale as Batman. On January 22, 2008, Ledger died in New York City, New York, United States as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.

On July 14, 2008, “The Dark Knight” made its world premiere in New York City. On February 22, 2009, Ledger was named the Best Supporting Actor at the 81st Academy Awards for his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”