Twenty-three people were injured after an unidentified substance was sprayed at a junior high school in Osaka on Friday morning, according to the city's board of education. The incident occurred when someone released the substance inside the school building during class hours. The spray quickly dispersed through the air, affecting students and staff who were present at the time. Fifteen students and eight staff members reported breathing difficulties and physical discomfort shortly after exposure.
The victims experienced sore throats and skin irritation as their primary symptoms. Several individuals noted that their skin had become red and itchy. The city's board of education confirmed that all twenty-three affected people required immediate attention from emergency medical personnel. First responders arrived promptly at the scene and provided treatment to those who had been harmed. Medical staff assessed the victims on site and determined that no one required hospitalization.
Police have launched a formal investigation into the incident. Officers are attempting to identify the individual responsible for spraying the substance and to establish its precise chemical composition. Meanwhile, safety inspectors conducted a thorough examination of the entire school building. They inspected every classroom and corridor to ensure no residual hazards remained. The school was subsequently declared safe, and students and staff were permitted to return home. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the police immediately.