Siege of Totenagai Street

An attempted jewel heist on 1906-09-26 led to an armed standoff between the thieves and the local miltia.

Background

A few days before the siege, Umesaka jewellers in Mutsuji had taken receipt of a large quantity of antique jewellery, found during renovations on Megurītai mountain, and believed to be part of a lost hoard. The value of the find was estimated to be in excess of 70,000 īzu, pending valuation. In the early hours of the morning, a Toinan gang gained access to the family home and took the children hostage, forcing the parents to open the safe and hand over the jewels. The intention of the gang had been to lock the family in the safe and leave them to be discovered by the shop assistant after opening. Returning home from a late shift at the press, Umesaka Mareo - Umesaka Benten's father - entered the rear of the property unexectedly, and was killed by a suprised gang member. The gunshot woke the neightbours who, seeing lights on in the back of the jeweller's, notified the constabulary who arrived shortly after midnight and laid siege to the jewellers - unaware that the family were inside.

The siege

The gang fired at the unarmed constabulary, who withdrew, summoned the the militia and evacuated the residents from the surrounding houses. Unaware of the militia's imminent arrival, the gang made it known that there were hostages, including children, in the premises, and that they were prepared to negotiate the family's release for their safe passage. The constabulary engaged in negotiation for the release of the children, in order to preserve the safety of the family while waiting for the militia.
Upon the militia's arrival, the gang immediately quit negotiations and opened fire, killing two constables and the militia leader in the opening volley. The gang's leader, Iseri Tsuneyo, was wounded in the returned fire. In retaliation, Umesaka Benten was dragged into view of the militia and shot twice, killing her. They promised another death on the $INTERVAL, this time of a child, unless the militia withdrew. After this, the gang barricaded the front of the property against bullets and laid in for a siege. Unwilling to risk further killings, the militia withdrew to the adjacent Yokiru street, and leaving Totenagai Street abandoned.
A special unit of trained soldiers was dispatched by the $AUTHORITY, arriving on the evening of same day. They entered the jewellers from the roof of an adjoining property, gaining access through the roof space and clearing the residential area of the building, subding the gang member supervising the children and evacuating the hostages through back the roof. Simultaneously, a second unit entered the property from the basement, with militia snipers stationed at the rear exit to the property.
With the gang and Umesaka Kisho contained on the ground floor, the special unit broke into the shop proper, using sound-and-light (SAL) and fog grenades to disorientate the gang members, and blunt rounds to reduce the chance of killing Umesaka Kisho. The gang members were subdued and taken into custody.

Outcome

The siege ended with the deaths of two of the Umesaka family, the leader of the Mutsuji militia Tanimoto Ano, and four militia members. All members of the gang were later found guilty of armed robbery, hostage-taking, and child endangerment, and sentanced to 27 years hard labour. The two gang members found guilty of the murders of Umesaka Benten and her father were sentenced to an additional 30 years each.

Conflict Type

Siege