A 25-year-old father in Kakamigahara City, Japan, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly throwing his 1- and 4-year-old daughters from a sixth-floor balcony on Sept. 26. Emergency crews had placed mats below the building; both children survived and were taken to hospital conscious, with injuries described as not believed to be life-threatening. Police had been called the night before after the mother reported an altercation, and the father reportedly remained silent after his arrest. Authorities continue to investigate.
Father Arrested After Allegedly Throwing His 1- and 4-Year-Old Daughters From Sixth-Floor Balcony — Both Survive
The apartment building where a father allegedly threw his two daughters off of a balcony on Sept. 26Credit: Nagoya TV News/Youtube
A 25-year-old father has been arrested in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, after security-camera footage reportedly showed him allegedly throwing his two young daughters — ages 1 and 4 — from the sixth-floor balcony of his apartment early on Sept. 26. Both children survived the fall and were taken to hospital conscious, with injuries described by local outlets as not believed to be life-threatening.
What Happened
Authorities say the incident occurred at about 4:20 a.m. local time. Police had been called to the apartment the previous night after the children's mother reported an argument in which the father allegedly grabbed her arm. Officers spoke with the mother outside the unit while the father reportedly refused to cooperate and remained inside.
As police prepared to enter the apartment in the early hours, Japanese news outlets report the father allegedly threw the two children from the balcony. Nearby security cameras captured footage of two indistinct objects falling from the sixth floor. Emergency responders had placed mats below the building — reports attribute the mats to either the fire department or to police who laid them out in anticipation of an emergency.
Stock photo of police car siren lightsCredit: Getty
Aftermath And Investigation
Both children were transported to hospital conscious. Local outlets including Japan Today, Nagoya TV News and CBC Television News in Japan say their injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening. The father, identified by local media as Tomokazu Miura, 25, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene and reportedly remained silent during questioning.
A nearby resident quoted the father as saying he 'intended to die with them,' according to Nagoya TV News.
Media reports indicate police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. PEOPLE reported on the case but was unable to reach the Gifu Prefectural Police for comment at the time of publication.
Sources
The account above is drawn from multiple Japanese news organizations, including Japan Today, Nagoya TV News and CBC Television News in Japan, and reporting aggregated by PEOPLE.
Note: This article summarizes early reports. Details may change as authorities release additional information.
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