The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) has launched an investigation into an incident, which occurred at the commemoration ceremony of the 80th Anniversary of the battle on Guadalcanal at bloody ridge on Monday 8 August.
The incident involved a local attacking a Japanese military man with a pair of scissors. The Japanese, who is the media person for the Japanese delegation to the commemoration, sustained minor injury as a result.
The attacker was arrested on the spot after the attack and is now in police custody.
Preliminary investigations say that the attacker is mentally ill, and according to the psychiatric health clinic took his last medication in March this year. The clinic confirmed that the attacker stopped taking his medications, and as a result may have suffered from psychiatric episodes which may have led to the attack.
The police say that like any other public official programs, locals are not restricted from witnessing such events. The attacker was one of the locals who joined and witnessed the service. The service was a peaceful and emotional one and it is unfortunate that this incident occurred, the police said.
The police empathize with the Japanese Embassy in Honiara over this unexpected incident.
Police urged families who look after mentally ill family members to take good care of them and to ensure they completed their prescribed medical requirements.
Members of the public who are aware of the status of those who presented risks to the public can help protect public safety.
Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade conveyed its apology to the government of Japan through a traditional reconciliation program at the Mendana hotel yesterday afternoon.
Source: RISPF Media
