AI Image
Japan summons US envoy as marine arrested over Okinawa murder
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Japan has summoned the US envoy following the arrest of Lance-Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, a US marine accused of robbing and murdering 39-year-old Anna Yagi in Okinawa, where many US servicemen are stationed.
- US Ambassador George Glass pledged full cooperation with the investigation and expressed condolences, while the accused marine has denied the charges.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the brutal incident, lodged a strong protest with the US, and demanded maximum cooperation for the investigation.
- CCTV footage reportedly shows a non-Japanese man entering a hotel room with the victim and leaving alone with her belongings, according to local media reports.
- Okinawa hosts a significant US military presence, with about 54,000 US personnel in Japan overall; incidents involving US forces have caused local anxiety, with around 6,000 US military personnel arrested in Japan since 1972.
