At least 15 killed, dozens injured in knife attack near Tokyo

An employee of the facility told police a man carrying a knife broke into the building, NHK said.

The attack happened in the city of Sagamihara, in the north-central Kanagawa Prefecture, 40 kilometres south-west of Tokyo.

The alleged assailant turned himself in to police after 3am (1800 GMT Monday), saying he had carried out the attack, the spokesman said.

He is reportedly being held on initial suspicion of attempted murder.

National broadcaster NHK said that 45 people had been injured and Kyodo news agency said that 28 people were seriously hurt.

Four of the injured are said to be in a serious condition.

According to AP, Japanese media reported between 15 and 19 people killed.

Police did not immediately release an official toll.

In 2008 a random attack in a Tokyo shopping area left seven dead.

In June 2001, eight children were killed when a former janitor entered an Ikeda elementary school in Osaka and began stabbing students at random.