A 6-year-old girl was fatally stabbed with a knife Sunday when a relative attacked her family at a pub near Inage Station in the city of Chiba.

The relative was identified as former Chiba Municipal Assemblyman Motomu Oda, 46.

According to the police, Oda came to the izakaya (traditional Japanese pub) with the family of four shortly before 7 p.m. and began attacking them after they entered a private room. He was later subdued by the pub’s staff.

The girl’s father told the police that the family outing was an occasion to get together with Oda, who was visiting from Okinawa, but that Oda suddenly raised his voice in anger and started stabbing everyone.

The girl was stabbed in the back. She was taken unconscious to a hospital and later pronounced dead from massive bleeding, the police said.

Her father was wounded in the thigh and her mother in the upper torso. Both are in their 40s. Her younger sister, about 1 year old, sustained minor wounds to the head and face but none is life-threatening, the police said.

The father said Oda is a relative of his wife, according to the police.

Oda was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder involving the mother but is making incomprehensible remarks, the police said, adding that they are trying to determine whether he is competent enough to be held criminally liable.

The suspect is also not responding to the allegations, investigative sources said.

The police are investigating whether the attack was premeditated because Oda is believed to have brought a bag containing the knife to the pub.

According to the izakaya, staff noticed a ruckus in the private room and apprehended the man. A customer called the police shortly after 7 p.m.

The manager of a nearby restaurant said he noticed something was going on when he heard ambulances and police cars coming.

“I also heard loud screaming,” he said.

KEYWORDS murder, stabbing, Chiba