Police in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, say a woman who was fatally stabbed in Fukuoka City on Monday had previously told them that she was having issues with a man.

Investigative sources say the police at that time ordered the man to stay away from the woman based on the country's anti-stalking law. They say the man's whereabouts are unknown and the police are looking into whether he was involved with the Monday incident.

Kawano Miki, 38, was fatally stabbed by a man on a street near JR Hakata Station.

Police are searching for the suspect, who fled the scene. They say he is believed to be in his 30s to 50s.

The police say the woman is presumed to have died about six minutes after they received an emergency call about the incident. They say the attacker apparently stabbed her repeatedly in a short period of time.

A police examination determined Kawano bled to death after suffering multiple stab wounds and slashes.