At least 19 taken to hospital after 'strong smell' reported at Tokyo mall

Police say a man sprayed a substance at an ATM in the luxury Ginza 6 shopping centre.

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A police spokesperson said a man had sprayed a substance at a cash machine on the ground floor of the building in the luxury Ginza 6 shopping centre on Monday.

The substance is believed to have been an irritant spray, identified by authorities as likely containing capsaicin - which is found in chilli peppers.

Police are still looking for the suspect, national broadcaster NHK reported.

People near the scene reported feeling their throat become painful and itchy, with one 70-year-old woman telling AFP that it started "stinging and hurting" as she approached the ATM.