Japan to arm police with rifles in fight against bear attacks

Japan will allow riot police to shoot bears with rifles in a revision of its strict gun laws announced as authorities battle a record number of fatal attacks.

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Bears have killed 13 people since April I, more than twice the previous annual record, as the animals venture further out of their habitats, with the rise in attacks blamed indirectly on climate change, a falling human population and other factors.

The government has estimated the overall bear population at more than 54,000.

The revision came after media reports said handguns issued to regular Japanese police are of limited use against bears because the weapons are not powerful enough to kill them.