[ "At the heart of Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district, the Ginza 6 shopping complex became the site of a chaotic incident after a sudden spray of a strong irritant filled the air. Responding police reports say a man hurled a substance at a cash machine on the ground floor, sending a pungent odor over the mall’s walkways and forcing dozens of shoppers to seek medical help.", "Authorities identified the spray as likely containing capsaicin – the active compound that gives chilli peppers their heat. Eyewitnesses inside the ATM area reported throats that stung and loosened suddenly, with many experiencing itchy or numb sensation. One 70‑year‑old visitor told AFP the scent “started stinging and hurting” as she walked closer to the machine, and that by the time she reached the ATM her throat felt “scratchy, almost numb.”", "Police made a rapid response, bringing in firefighters, ambulance crews and members of the police force wearing hazmat suits to escort distressed patrons out of the centre. The road in front of the building was sealed off, and emergency crews hung tarpaulin sheets around the affected zones to contain the spray and protect the public.", "In a statement, a police spokesperson said the suspect had already fled the scene, and the national broadcaster NHK reported that investigators were still looking for him. In total, the surge of pain and panic saw at least 19 people transported to the nearest hospitals for treatment.", "The incident underscores the level of vigilance required in densely populated shopping venues. While authorities continue to investigate and the suspect remains at large, emergency services have already provided training and protocols to better handle similar chemical or irritant threats in public spaces." ]