NHK reported a man, believed to be in his 20s, suddenly began attacking his co-passengers on a Keio Line train near Kokuryo station in the western Tokyo city of Chofu at around 8 pm. local time (GMT+9).

The Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect, who has been taken into custody, also scattered liquid, what appeared to be oil, in the train car, which he then set ablaze, burning some of the seats.

NHK reported citing the railway operator, Keio Corporation, that the conductor of the Shinjuku-bound special express train had informed the company about the active knife-wielding attacker.

The special express train made an emergency stop at Kokuryo Station, which it usually passes, to evacuate the passengers and to neutralize the attacker.

Videos taken from Kokuryo station's platform show panicked passengers leaving the coach, where the incident occurred, from its windows.

Footage of the incident shared on social media also shows scared passengers running inside the train after flames suddenly rose in the car they were fleeing.

The Japanese public broadcaster reported quoting local police that a person, apparently in his 60s, had been stabbed by the attacker and he was unconscious.

Police have initiated an investigation into the attacker while the suspect is being interrogated, according to NHK.

Keio Corporation, the railway operator, said in a tweet that the train's operation was stopped due to the attack, while services on both its inbound and outbound lines had been partly suspended following the incident.

The train operator stated both the Keio and Inokashira lines are now being operated normally.