Man, 24, dressed as the Joker STABS 10 people in Tokyo train rampage before 'spraying acid on passengers' and setting the carriage on fire - then calmly smokes a cigarette before police arrest him

 A man who was dressed as Batman villain the Joker has been arrested after allegedly stabbing 10 people onboard a Tokyo commuter train.  

Witnesses described how the attacker also poured what is believed to have been oil around the carriage before lighting it on fire, causing panic among passengers.

It was also reported hydrochloric acid was thrown during the attack, which occurred on the Keio express line bound for Shinjuku, the world's busiest rail station.

Officials said overall 17 passengers were injured, including three seriously. 

A man believed to be in his 60s was unconscious and in critical condition after being stabbed, according to media. 

The attacker was arrested on the spot and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder, NHK said. His motive was not immediately known.Footage has emerged on social media of the attacker dressed as the joker (pictured)  being arrested

Footage has emerged on social media of the attacker dressed as the joker (pictured)  being arrested

Many passengers escaped through train windows (pictured) after the doors failed to open immediately when it stopped

Many passengers escaped through train windows (pictured) after the doors failed to open immediately when it stopped

Rescue workers (pictured) at the scene in Japan after a man dressed as the joker stabbed passengers

Rescue workers (pictured) at the scene in Japan after a man dressed as the joker stabbed passengers

Police escort rescue staff (pictured) through the station

Police escort rescue staff (pictured) through the station

Firefighters leave the station (pictured) after a man dressed as the joker set fire to a train carriage in the wake of stabbing 10 people

Firefighters leave the station (pictured) after a man dressed as the joker set fire to a train carriage in the wake of stabbing 10 people 

Pictured: Smoke could be seen billowing from one of the carriages where it a fire was started

Pictured: Smoke could be seen billowing from one of the carriages where it a fire was started

NHK said witnesses told police that the attacker was wearing a bright outfit - a green shirt, a blue suit and a purple coat which resembled that of the Joker from the Batman comics.

Tokyo police officials said the attack happened inside the Keio train near the Kokuryo station.

Television footage showed a number of firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing the passengers, many of whom escaped through train windows.

Fire crews and police are seen gathered outside the station

Fire crews and police are seen gathered outside the station 

In one video, passengers were running from another car, where flames were gushing.

NHK said the suspect, after stabbing passengers, poured a liquid resembling oil and set fire, which partially burned seats.

Shunsuke Kimura, who filmed the video, told NHK that he saw passengers desperately running and while he was trying to figure out what happened, he heard an explosive noise and saw smoke wafting.

Firefighters explain the situation at Kokuryo Station on the Keio Line in the city of Chofu

Firefighters explain the situation at Kokuryo Station on the Keio Line in the city of Chofu

An injured person (pictured) is carried from the scene by rescuers

An injured person (pictured) is carried from the scene by rescuers 

The scene at the Tokyo train station from the air (pictured)

The scene at the Tokyo train station from the air (pictured)

He also jumped from a window but fell on the platform and hurt his shoulder.

'Train doors were closed and we had no idea what was happening, and we jumped from the windows,' Kimura said. 'It was horrifying.'

One video uploaded on Twitter showed a steady stream of people running away from a train car where, seconds later, a blaze lit upAnother video showed passengers rushing to squeeze out of the train's windows and onto the platform where the train had made an emergency stop. 

'I thought it was a Halloween stunt,' one witness told the Yomiuri newspaper, recalling the moment he saw other passengers running in a panic towards his train car.

'Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife.'

The witness described how there was blood on the knife, he said.

Firefighters (pictured) were seen at the station to put out the fire which spread through the carriage

Firefighters (pictured) were seen at the station to put out the fire which spread through the carriage

Emergency services gather outside the station to help the injured

Emergency services gather outside the station to help the injured Firefighters were seen outside the station after the mass stabbing in Tokyo

Firefighters were seen outside the station after the mass stabbing in Tokyo

One passenger, believed to be in his 60s or 70s lost consciousness after being stabbed, according to Kyodo News

A male passenger said: 'I heard a loud bang and saw flames and smoke in the back. Everyone was panicking,' 

The incident was posted on social media by witnesses and footage on the television showed firefighters, police officials and paramedics rescuing passengers.

Police and firefighters (pictured) at the scene

Police and firefighters (pictured) at the scene

An aerial shot shows a  huge amount of emergency services in the area

An aerial shot shows a  huge amount of emergency services in the area

Employees walk from the station after the incident and a police officer is seen standing nearby

Employees walk from the station after the incident and a police officer is seen standing nearby

Police officers walk into the station after the attack which saw passengers escape from train windows

Police officers walk into the station after the attack which saw passengers escape from train windows

A view of the station after the knife, acid and arson attack in Japan

A view of the station after the knife, acid and arson attack in Japan

Officers at a cordon tape in the station following the arrest of the attacker

Officers at a cordon tape in the station following the arrest of the attacker

Many passengers escaped through train windows after the doors failed to open immediately when it stopped.

Officers were seen entering the train where the suspect sat and did not resist arrest. 

The motive for the attack was not immediately known but it happened on a train bound for Shinjuku in central Tokyo, made up of 10 carriages. 

It is the second attack involving a knife on a Tokyo train in two months. 

In August, the day before the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony, a 36-year-old man stabbed 10 passengers on a commuter train in Tokyo in a random burst of violence. 

The suspect later told police that he wanted to attack women who looked happy. 

The attacker was dressed as the joker (pictured in the 2019 film)

The attacker was dressed as the joker (pictured in the 2019 film)

Man in a Joker costume seen being arrested after Tokyo acid attack
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