Fact Check: Shiraishi's victims were aged 15 to 26, all but one were women.

Fact Check: "Shiraishi's victims were aged 15 to 26, all but one were women."

What We Know

Takahiro Shiraishi, infamously known as the "Twitter Killer," was convicted of murdering nine individuals between August and October 2017. According to multiple sources, including the BBC and Wikipedia, the victims were predominantly young women, with eight out of the nine victims being female. The ages of the victims ranged from 15 to 26 years old, confirming that the claim about their ages is accurate. The only male victim was also within this age range, as he was 26 years old at the time of his death.

Shiraishi lured his victims, many of whom were suicidal, through social media, specifically Twitter, where he offered to assist them in dying. His actions shocked Japanese society and led to significant media coverage and discussions about online safety and mental health.

Analysis

The claim that "Shiraishi's victims were aged 15 to 26, all but one were women" is supported by credible sources. The BBC reports that most of Shiraishi's victims were young women, and the Wikipedia entry on Shiraishi corroborates this, stating that eight of the nine victims were female and that all victims fell within the specified age range.

The reliability of these sources is high. The BBC is a well-respected international news organization known for its rigorous fact-checking and journalistic standards. Wikipedia, while user-edited, cites numerous references and is often updated with information from credible news outlets and academic sources, making it a useful starting point for fact-checking.

However, it is essential to note that while Wikipedia is generally reliable, it should be cross-referenced with primary sources or established news reports for critical claims. In this case, the information aligns across multiple reputable outlets, reinforcing its accuracy.

Conclusion

Verdict: True. The claim that "Shiraishi's victims were aged 15 to 26, all but one were women" is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. The ages of the victims and their gender distribution are consistent across reports, confirming the accuracy of the statement.

Fact Check: Shiraishi's victims were aged 15 to 26, all but one were women.