TOKYO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A man who allegedly attacked two high school students with a hammer and sprayed an unidentified substance at police in Tokyo on Wednesday morning has been on the run after initially barricading himself inside his home, local media reported.

Police have launched a search for the man on suspicion of attempted murder.

The incident occurred at around 7:20 a.m. local time on a street in Fussa, a suburban area in western Tokyo. The suspect, believed to be in his 40s, hit one student in the face and another in the shoulder, according to Kyodo News.

Responding police officers were threatened with a knife before the man sprayed an unknown substance at them, leaving three injured.

All of those affected have been taken to the hospital, none in life-threatening condition.

Believing the man had barricaded himself inside his home, police stormed the residence around noon but didn't find the suspect.

Security camera footage showed he had fled through a back door before police entered, the report said.

The motive behind the attacks remains under investigation. ■