OSAKA -- Seventeen people were treated at a hospital for minor throat injuries after pungent-smelling smoke suddenly filled a restaurant in Osaka's Ikuno Ward on Friday night, police said Saturday.
Early Saturday, four youths aged between 16 and 18 turned themselves in at Ikuno Police Station, claiming they had accidentally released the gas in the restaurant. The substance was reportedly similar to tear gas.
The youths said they regretted the act and said they were shocked by its serious consequences, according to police. Investigators said they were still looking for another three teenagers -- two boys and a girl -- in connection with the case.
According to the youths, the group found a spray device in the shape of a penlight left at the restaurant. The container suddenly released the gas when they played around with it, the youths were quoted by police as saying, and they left the restaurant after experiencing pain in their eyes and throats.
The incident occurred at around 10:15 p.m., panicking the 70 customers and 10 employees of the restaurant, according to police.
Twelve females and four males, aged between 5 and 66, were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for throat complaints, police said. One other man subsequently went to a hospital unassisted, they added.
They said the smoke filled the restaurant immediately after a group of young men and a young woman left the premises after complaining about the service.
One of the diners taken to hospital described the smoke as smelling similar to pepper spray.