A security guard stands at the entrance to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Tokyo.

Health ministry gets more than 100 prank calls, email threats

Thursday 20th November, 10:04 AM JST

TOKYO —

Police said Thursday that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare received more than 100 prank calls and threatening emails on Wednesday, a day after a former vice welfare minister and his wife were murdered in Saitama, and the wife of another former vice welfare minister was stabbed in Tokyo. Police said some of the messages alluded to future attacks, while others suggested the victims got what they deserved.

The ministry removed the names and titles of about 350 staff from its web page on Wednesday. In the morning, employees filed into work through security staff and metal detectors. A 40-year-old executive said: “I can’t remember ever having metal detectors here before.” Another employee said “We’re all doing our best here…I wonder why something like this happened.”

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

timorborder at 10:21 AM JST - 20th November

Me thinks that is not a policeman but a guardman. He is not carrying the right type of baton. Police have more important things to do with their time, for example, stand in front of ATMs down the local bank, etc.
Alongdriver at 10:35 AM JST - 20th November

Well, now there will be more likely of a chance to catch the perp now that he/she is leaving trails by emails and phones. Eventually the perp will be caught on a security camera somewhere, and hopefully it will be before doing more damage.
ReexJax at 10:39 AM JST - 20th November

He is holding a metal detector
dotherightthing at 10:40 AM JST - 20th November

“We’re all doing our best here…I wonder why something like this happened.”

I am sure you do. Just I wonder about what.
medievaltimes at 12:09 PM JST - 20th November

Another employee said “We’re all doing our best here…I wonder why something like this happened.”

Come on. Is it really that hard to figure out?
burikko at 12:36 PM JST - 20th November

I would not like to justify such action. But... after Mr. Okuda's(Toyota's ex-president) comment, criticism against the Ministry of Health had been prohibited substantially. We have no means to criticize the Ministry but web.
rogerhavis at 12:51 PM JST - 20th November

You better known the KY between the Politics and general judgment.Nothing really I found unusual in case and in this land.Only one comment do not confuse tero and simple serials killers or criminals;Media watch out your mouth!!!
kaoken at 01:09 PM JST - 20th November

What's a vice welfare minister, n why r they being killed?
Nessie at 01:33 PM JST - 20th November

What's that in the j-cop's hand? An electric cattle prod?

He is just happy to see you.
nandakandamanda at 01:48 PM JST - 20th November

rogerhavis. What is KY? (And "tero" means "terror"?)

So, you are saying that the media should watch their mouth saying this might be a terror attack? You believe absolutely that this is revenge by a member of the general public who is angry about how the government has mismanaged so many people's pensions?
some14some at 01:56 PM JST - 20th November

Not newsworthy. Health ministry has been receiving that many calls almost daily ever since people heard about 50Million missing pension records.
ptolemy at 03:34 PM JST - 20th November

“We’re all doing our best here"

Well apparently people are upset that you lost their retirement records or the money they deposited for years was never entered. If that is your best I'd hate to see your worst. I just hope they find the nut bag muderer.
BBLeo at 04:39 PM JST - 20th November

It could be that health ministry will learn a lesson and start to do their job that are paid for. 'Anyone working in these offices must be very happy for popularity and they could become 'STARS' for improved health system
BBLeo at 05:58 PM JST - 20th November

My first comment was pin to something like this?

Will this be one of the motives for killing 'ex-health ministry?'

'People are loosing thier plots. Are there anymore like this below?

Hospitals in crisis more.http://www.japantoday.com/category/commentary/view/hospitals-in-crisis
temporaryVisa at 07:48 PM JST - 20th November

The government should realize that their bringing in unelected leaders one after another has eroded the trust of people in them up to the point where the workers they are employing cannot do their jobs in safety anymore. It's time to call new elections so people have a chance to show their anger at the pension debacle and other screw ups in a democratic way.