TOKYO (AP) -- The U.S. Navy said Wednesday it has imposed limits on travel and alcohol consumption for personnel at its base near Tokyo following the killing of a Japanese taxi driver.The limits would take effect immediately, said Cmdr. David Waterman, a Navy spokesman.
Photo: The USS Cowpens arrives in Shizuoka, Japan, for a goodwill visit in 2004.No alcohol will be sold due to "a period of heightened sensitivity" over the stabbing of a 61-year-old Japanese taxi driver last month in Yokosuka, just south of Tokyo and home to the U.S. naval base, Waterman said. Off-base travel and activities will be limited, he said.
The announcement came hours after Japanese authorities questioned a U.S. sailor over his suspected role in the killing of taxi driver Masaaki Takahashi.
The sailor, a 22-year-old crew member of the Yokosuka-based ship USS Cowpens, has been in U.S. custody since he was apprehended on a desertion charge earlier this month in Tokyo.
U.S. Navy investigators have also questioned him about the killing of the taxi driver because a credit card with his name was allegedly found in the victim's car.
The case comes amid mounting public anger over the U.S. military presence in Japan, where American troops face several allegations including rape and drunk driving. The outrage has prompted the military to impose restrictions on the 50,000 U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan.
"As members of the Japanese community, we all feel the impact of the murder," Waterman said. "As a member of the community, we really mourn over the tragic incident."
Referring to limits on personnel, Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Japan, said in a statement that "The goal of this action is to review plans and policies on violence prevention and to respectfully mourn the tragic loss of Mr. Takahashi."
Waterman denied the measures were taken in response to the sailor's reported admission to Japanese police to the killing.
On Wednesday, Japanese police went to the Yokosuka base to question the sailor about the killing, Waterman said, but he refused to confirm media reports that the sailor admitted to fatally stabbing the driver.
Japanese authorities, who were reportedly preparing to obtain an arrest warrant for the sailor from a Japanese court, were expected to ask the U.S. Navy for his handover as early as Thursday.
The sailor's name, age, nationality and other details have not been released for privacy reasons. Japanese media reports have said he is a Nigerian citizen serving in the U.S. Navy.
updated 4 hours, 23 minutes ago
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