Car rams into Tokyo street injuring 9

At least eight people were injured, one seriously, when a vehicle ploughed into crowds celebrating New Year's Day in Tokyo early yesterday.

A police spokesman said the driver had been detained and national broadcaster NHK said the man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

He was identified as Kazuhiro Kusakabe, 21, from Osaka. NHK said the suspect had initially described the incident as an "act of terror" but later said the attack was in retaliation for capital punishment.

The incident happened shortly after midnight local time on Monday in the popular tourist area of Harajuku, near Meiji Shrine, in central Tokyo. The street was closed to vehicles at the time to accommodate the large number of pedestrians making their way to the shrine for New Year's prayers.

The suspect fled from the scene and assaulted a passerby before he was captured 20 minutes later, NHK said. About 20 litres of kerosene were found in the vehicle.