At least 19 people were killed in a knife attack at a medical care centre for the disabled in Japan in the early hours of Tuesday, reported BBC. The incident that took place in Sagamihara left 26 people injured, of whom 20 are in serious condition.

The attacker, identified as Satoshi Uematsu, entered the Tsukui Yamayuri Garden facility at around 2.30 am (local time) and started stabbing people indiscriminately. The 26-year-old is believed to have said that he wanted the disabled to disappear. The centre had 149 residents. At the time of the incident, eight staff were on duty at the facility. Local media reports said Uematsu wrote to the Lower House of Japan's Parliament earlier this year, threatening to kill around 470 disabled people.

According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the police have arrested the attacker, reported The Guardian. Investigators have not confirmed the motive behind the attack yet. “We are still confirming the details of the case,” a police spokesperson said.