Japan redoubles hunt for aging Red Army terrorists

Tokyo police are stepping up the hunt for members of the Japanese Red Army wanted for their alleged role in attacks in the 1970s and 1980s, including a 1972 airport shooting attack near Tel Aviv that killed 26.

Police in Tokyo release a video with images of the aging militants that warned the “case” was not over yet.

“Japanese Red Army members are still on the run and they may live somewhere near you,” the video warns, adding the “case is not over yet.”

The Japanese Red Army, a violent ultra-leftist group that had links with Palestinian militants, was formed in 1971 and took responsibility for several international attacks, including the takeover of the US Consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1975.

The group is also blamed for a 1972 machine-gun and grenade assault on what was then known as Lod international airport in Israel.

Kozo Okamoto, 74, is thought to be the sole surviving terrorist from the 1972 attack, in which he and two other Red Army terrorists opened fire in the airport passenger terminal, according to Israel.

The attack killed 26 people, most of them Puerto Rican tourists on a diving trip.

The video, produced by the police’s public security department, was released on social media and is playing on big-screen billboards in downtown Tokyo.

Authorities have also put up posters in train stations and other public locations. In addition to the wanted photos depicting the militants when they were younger, police added mock-ups of how they likely appear aged in their 70s.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.