2013 Akihaburo bombings

The 2013 Akihaburo bombings were a series of bombings that went off on Monogatari Avenue in Akihaburo, Toyokin, that targeted innocent civilians and pedestrians. The bombs went off at around 8:56 p.m. UTC+9.

There were a reported three bombs that went off, all distanced at an average 3 blocks away from each other. The bombs used in the attacks were pipe bombs that were located in 3 Subaru automobiles. At least 18 pedestrians were killed and about 370 others were critically injured. It was the worst terrorist attack in Takyoto since the Nichiro Terror Plot.

The motive is supposedly a result of the riots due to the 2013 Takyotan ban on Islamic religion, however it is not known exactly. The perpetrators for the attacks are not yet known. However, the 3rd bombing suspect has been thought to have been found and is now in questioning.

Attacks
On May 23, 2013, people were mostly listening to President Mayuro Matsurami announce the ban on Islamic practices in Takyoto. After the speech, many still commuted for work and leisure that Thursday and there were no signs of imminent attacks. However, at around 3:30 p.m. TST, riots had started to form in Akihaburo, Yamasi, and Shibuku against the President asking for a reform towards the ban. However, the riots were mostly street fights and protests, and showed no signs of terrorism.

At around 8:56 p.m. TST, a bomb had exploded just 2 miles southeast of Akihaburo Station along Monogatari Avenue in Akihaburo. The blast instantly killed 5, and injured around 89 others. Just 3 seconds after the 1st explosion, about 2 blocks north another bomb had exploded. This time it killed 11 people and injured 238, being located near a busy pedestrian crossing. About a minute after the two explosions, about a mile south of them, the final bomb exploded, killing just 2 people and injuring 47.

The first two bombs did not harm any of the surrounding buildings, only harming the car hosting the explosives. However, the third bomb had set fire to an adjacent apartment building which killed 1 person in the building and injured 21. The apartment building had later suffered from partial collapse.

Initial response
After the bombings, many witnesses had called for emergency services. The first emergency responders to arrive went straight for the 2nd blast, which was the most severe. Later other responders arrived at the remaining blast sites. Firefighters had put out the fire at the 1st bombing after burning for over 3 hours. The 2nd and 3rd fire were put out after 5 hours of burning. Many injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Monogatari Avenue was closed for the rest of the day for the safety of pedestrians. Akihaburo Station was temporary closed, but reopened the next afternoon. All shops along the avenue were closed as soon as word was gotten out about the blasts. Meanwhile, Toyokin Disney Resort, although in a different ward, closed 3 hours early due to the bombings. All government offices in Toyokin and Nichiro were evacuated for safety reasons. Police from Toyokin and Dainia had guarded the perimeter of the avenue and blast sites, blocking it off to the public. As of 26 May 2013, Monogatari Avenue is still closed. Also, Akihaburo Station, closed temporarily on May 26 after a bomb scare called for an evacuation of the station.

Toyokin International Airport and Kyūmura International Airport were closed for the whole morning on May 24 because of the bombings. Both airports reopened on that afternoon, but with limited service. Many busy rail stations in Toyokin were evacuated for a few hours.

Investigation
The initial investigation was led by local police, but they were soon joined by professionals under the National Investigation Division of Takyoto. The bombings were instantly categorized as a terrorist attack. At the time of the bombings, there were no official suspects or perpetrators. There were no security cameras around the blast sites that could have given clues as to who the bombers were. Also, many witnesses never noticed anybody suspicious coming in or out of the cars.

Government officials and responders immediately responded to the attacks. Although there were many large riots in other wards that left a few protesters injured, there were no signs of imminent attacks. Pedestrians on the street the night before the attacks had reported some strange activity such as few people lingering around certain areas for long periods of time or reports of the same cars sighted about 7 times driving down the avenue within 15 minutes. However, the police dismissed the issue.

At all 3 bombing sites, shrapnel from the bombs were found within a 3 m radius perimeter. Shattered glass and automobile pieces were also scattered amongst the shrapnel. It was soon confirmed that the improvised explosive devices were indeed pipe bombs. Investigators found burnt remains of an electronic circuit board in the trunk of all three cars. It is unknown if the bombs were timed or not, but a smartphone was found in the 3rd car thought to have been used as a timer. Although it has not been confirmed. It is not yet confirmed as of May 25 if the bombs were homemade.