Nintendo Live 2024 And Splatoon 3 Finals Bomb Threat Suspect Has Been Arrested

thegamer.com:

If you're a Nintendo fan, you may be aware of a certain incident that occurred last year that caused both Nintendo Live 2024 and the Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals to be canceled, with the company claiming that it couldn't ensure the safety of guests or staff if they were to go ahead. That was down to anonymous "threatening behavior" that targeted Nintendo staff, which eventually extended to Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals audience members.

Both of these events were intended to take place in Tokyo between December 2023 and January 2024, but were eventually postponed due to safety concerns. A couple of months later, the Japanese newspaper Kyoto Shimbun has now reported that police have found and arrested a 27-year-old on suspicion of "interference with business by force", who allegedly sent Nintendo threats via the inquiry form on the company's official website.

According to the Kyoto Shimbun, the suspect made a total of 39 separate submissions, severely disrupting Nintendo's operations, and would routinely threaten extreme violence. One such threat warned Nintendo to "prepare to be killed if events like 'Splatoon Koushien' are held", while another preemptively mocked Nintendo's concern by claiming "Even if security is increased, a bomb will end it in one blow. Die."

It's been reported that the individual under suspicion of sending these threats has admitted to the allegations, though sentencing has yet to be carried out. Japanese law is very different to the laws in Western countries, but threats of violence in the United Kingdom can carry up to ten years in prison depending on the severity of the threat. Given this individual has allegedly sent dozens of threats and has disrupted a business as large as Nintendo, we can at the very least assume they won't get a simple firm talking to.

With the suspect allegedly guilty of these threats now in police custody, those planning to attend the postponed Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024 and the Mario