STRATEGIC PARTNERS
June 18, 2002
OSAKA, Japan -- Four people were injured, one critically, in an explosion at a bank of ATMs inside a building in downtown Osaka, Japan, on June 18. Police are investigating the incident, and said a suspicious man was spotted at the machines shortly before the explosion.
The two ATMs located inside the nine-story Osaka Saitama Building were operated by Asahi Bank. According to Japan Today, police were not certain if any money inside the ATMs were stolen.
The explosion occurred at 6:45 p.m., local time, about 15 minutes before the ATMs were scheduled to shut down for the day. According to JapanToday, the security company responsible for managing the ATMs received a call shortly before the explosion from someone saying the ATMs were malfunctioning and requesting a maintenance crew. Witnesses said a typed note was placed at the entrance to the ATMs saying they were shut down.
The explosion apparently was touched off by an explosive device and tore doors from their hinges on the building's ground floor and shattered windows.
Satoshi Ueno, a security guard who was checking out the ATMs at the time of the explosion, sustained serious burns over much of his body, according to Japan Today. An employee at the building, Osamu Fuhita, suffered burns on his head and legs, while two other man, Kiyokazu Nosaka and Junichi Adachi suffered minor injuries.
