AKITA (Bernama-Kyodo): A bear entered a shopping mall of retail giant Aeon Co. in Akita Prefecture on Sunday (Nov 16), prompting staff to barricade the animal before authorities arrived to kill it, Kyodo News Agency reported.
The incident took place during shopping hours, but all customers inside the Aeon Noshiro mall in northeastern Japan were safely evacuated.
A staff member made an emergency call to police around 11.20am local time to report the entry into the mall of the bear, which was found near the first-floor furniture section. It was tranquilised by a blow dart before being killed by electric shock more than two hours later.
The police closed the mall's entrances and imposed traffic restrictions in the area until the bear was killed. It remained closed for the rest of the day.
A 66-year-old nearby resident who came to shop expressed fear about a bear appearing in such a busy area. - Bernama-Kyodo
