Bear wanders into supermarket in eastern Japan, injures 2 customers

TOKYO – A bear wandered into a supermarket in Gunma prefecture, eastern Japan, on the evening of Oct 7 and pounced on two customers, leaving them with minor injuries, the police said.

One of the shoppers who was attacked inside the store in Numata was taken to hospital, while the bear, whose species was not immediately identified, fled the building.

According to the police, security camera footage showed the bear to be an adult, about 1.4m long. Officers used patrol cars to warn nearby residents, urging them to stay indoors and exercise caution.

In an emergency call placed at around 7.30pm local time, an eyewitness reported seeing a bear attack a customer inside the store.

The local fire department also received a call from a store employee reporting that a bear had scratched a man.

The two injured customers were both men, aged 69 and 76, respectively, the police said.

A store manager said the bear also made contact with him during the incident.

“It looked to me as if the bear was confused. It was in the store for 10 to 15 minutes. It didn’t look like it was foraging,” he said. KYODO