<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Three people have been killed in a stabbing and shooting attack in central Japan, local media say.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A man in camouflage is said to have stabbed a woman and then used a hunting rifle in the city of Nakano, Nagano prefecture. Two policemen were also killed, and another person was injured.</div><div><br></div><div>The alleged attacker is holed inside a building, Japanese media report.</div><div>Gun violence remains extremely rare in Japan, despite the killing of ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister and his death profoundly shocked a country where handguns are banned and incidents of political violence are almost unheard of.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2014, there were just six incidents of gun deaths in Japan, compared to 33,599 in the US.</div><div><br></div><div>People have to undergo a strict exam and mental health tests in order to buy a gun. Even then, only shotguns and air rifles are allowed. - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>