Photo of the knifeman who killed 19 people and wounded 45 at a care centre in Japan

Photo of the knifeman who killed 19 people and wounded 45 at a care centre in Japan

In what is being described as Japan's worst mass killing in decades, at least 19 people are dead and 45 wounded in a knife attack on Tuesday at a facility for the handicapped in a city just west of Tokyo.

The face of of the perpetrator of the attacks has been revealed. 26-year-old Satoshi Uematsu turned himself in following the stabbing spree, confessing to the police that he wanted to "get rid of the disabled from this world". 

According to Japanese media reports, He sent bizarre texts around the time he committed the sickening crime. He was also reportedly seen handing out fliers near the facility that said: "It is wasteful to have the disabled continue living" earlier this year.

Authorities said Uematsu had been admitted to a hospital back in February, after police contacted him in response to a letter he had attempted to pass to the speaker of the lower house of Japan’s parliament. In the letter, Uematsu argued that the government should permit euthanasia for disabled people. He said he would be willing to carry out such killings himself, and detailed how he would do it.

“I envision a world where a person with multiple disabilities can be euthanised, with an agreement from the guardians, when it is difficult for the person to carry out household and social activities.” He claimed he could wipe out a total of 470 disabled individuals” by targeting two facilities for disabled people during the night shift, when staffing is low. "The act will be carried out speedily, and definitely without harming the staff. After wiping out the 260 people in two facilities, I will turn myself in."