At least five of such cases involving cat parts found in elementary school playgrounds and parks were reported in February, prompting local authorities, schools and parents to beef up protection of young students, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
A 60-year-old teacher, who had noticed the teenager while invigilating, was stabbed several times when he tried to seize the intruder, it added. The Saitama teenager was held down by the teacher and other staff. The police told Japanese media that the suspect had admitted to stabbing the teacher, saying that he wanted to kill someone and did not care who it was.
More dismembered parts emerged over the next few days, including the head and legs of a cat that were found on a road, as well as a severed cat jaw dangling from a playground railing in an elementary school.