Japanese sailor attacked at Solomon Islands memorial service

8 August 2022, 07:54

Solomon Islands Stabbing
Solomon Islands Stabbing. Picture: PA

The dawn service at Bloody Ridge was part of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal.

A Japanese sailor was attacked in the Solomon Islands during a World War II memorial service on Monday attended by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

The victim was part of a Japanese Navy media team and he was stabbed in the neck with a pair of scissors, receiving minor injuries.

The Solomon Islands government was hosting the dawn service at Bloody Ridge as part of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The sailor needed stitches but was expected to recover. Bloody Ridge community chief Wesley Ramo said the suspect was from a neighbouring community.

Solomon Islands Stabbing
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks at the dawn service at Bloody Ridge (Chris Weissenborn/NZDF via AP/PA)

Also attending the ceremony were Makoto Oniki, Japan’s state minister of defence, and Peeni Henare, New Zealand’s defence minister.

The suspect reportedly tackled the sailor to the ground during the attack before locals and US military personnel stepped in and detained him. The ceremony resumed after a short break.

Commemorations are being held over three days in the Solomon Islands to mark the anniversary of the battle. Bloody Ridge is a small hill where in September 1942, US Marines held off a Japanese force that was attacking a military airfield.

Ms Sherman’s trip comes after the US and several Pacific nations expressed deep concern about a security pact the Solomons signed with China in April, which many fear could result in a military build-up in the region.

As part of her trip, Ms Sherman has also visited the Pacific nations of Samoa and Tonga and plans to visit Australia and New Zealand.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

American Easter egg

White House’s annual Easter egg roll to be attended by 40,000 people

Barbers in Paris

Proposal to ban discrimination over a person’s hair passes first legal hurdle

Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian Authority names new government following pressure to reform

Arvind Kejriwal

Opposition leader Kejriwal locked up for further four days, court rules

Resident clears rubble from home

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks

Pope Francis

Pope urges priests to avoid ‘clerical hypocrisy’ in Maundy Thursday speech