Five elderly Japanese citizens were stabbed to death by a 40-year-old man believed to be their relative in western Japan on Monday.

Japanese police said it has arrested a 40-year-old man who was covered with blood after he stabbed the five elderly people.

Japanese newspapers, however, reported that the suspect has admitted stabbing three women aged 60, 76 and 84, as well as two men aged 62 and 82. The motive behind the killing was still unclear.

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The bodies of the couple were found in a building in the town of Sumoto, around 300 feet from where the house where the bodies of the other three elderly victims were found.

The suspect, identified as Tatsuhiko Hirano, was soaked and covered with blood when responding policemen arrested him.

"There was not struggle when we arrested him. Blood was all over him when responding policemen arrived in the area," a police officer said.

Details about the stabbing were still limited as authorities were still interrogating the suspect.

Deputy Police Chief Keizo Okumoto said the accused refused to comment further as he was awaiting his lawyer.

The accused, local media said, could be related to the victims because they shared the same last name.

Sumoto is a town located on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It was founded on February 11, 1940.

As of March 31, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 50,087 and a population density of 267 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 182.47 square kilometers.

On February 11, 2006, the town of Goshiki (from Tsuna District) was merged into Sumoto.

Sumoto is famous for many items some of which are Awaji onions, Naruto oranges and Kobe Beef.

TagsJapan Stabbing, Sumoto Stabbing, Japan Elderly Stabbing