AKIPRESS.COM - Two people have died and 16 others, including more than a dozen schoolgirls, have been injured after a man armed with at least one knife went on a stabbing rampage at a crowded bus stop near Tokyo on Tuesday morning, Guardian reports.

Japanese media said a 12-year-old girl and man aged 39 had died in hospital from their injuries. The attacker, a 57-year-old man, also died after reportedly stabbing himself following the attack near a park in the city of Kawasaki, south of the capital.

Two girls and a woman in her 40s are being treated for serious injuries, Kyodo news agency said.

The prime minister, Shinzo Abe, voiced “strong anger” over the attack and asked his education minister to ensure that children were safe when travelling to and from school.

The 13 injured children, believed to be girls aged from six to 12, are reportedly pupils at Caritas primary school and were waiting for a bus when the the suspect launched his attack.

The suspected attacker fell unconscious after stabbing himself in the neck and later died, reports said. Police have not named the man and it was not clear if they had established a motive before he died.