Police in Japan are looking for a man who threw a paper aeroplane into the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

CCTV footage showed how a man launched the paper plane at the Memorial Cenotaph at around 3am on 28th October before calmly walking away.

A security guard found the 14-inch-long toy glider – which was taped shut – hours later.

He was baffled to find the text ‘Great Hiroshima Earthquake 10.28 5:18’ written on top of it in blue ink.

Local media were unable to explain the cryptic scrawling but commented that it may be a prophecy.

Taichi Mukugi – from Hiroshima City Hall – commented on the event online, mentioning that barely-legible scribblings were also found on the inner folds of the toy plane.

One part reportedly said “165 countries as of [illegible date]” and another read “14 including Hiroshima [illegible] Nagasaki”.

According to Mukugi, the writings might have been an indirect threat.

A report was filed with police over the incident.

Local media reported that, if caught, the man could face prosecution, as publicly disrespecting places of worship and cemeteries is prohibited under local law.

If found guilty, he could receive up to half a year in jail and a top fine of JPY 100,000 (GBP 599).

However, it is not immediately clear if the man’s actions constitute an act of disrespect or if the Memorial Cenotaph can be considered a place of worship or cemetery.

Deputy police chief Kengo Imoto told local media that police in Hiroshima are looking into the matter seriously, given that the city will host the G7 Summit next year.

An estimated 70,000 to 135,000 people died in Hiroshima when the United States detonated an atomic bomb over the city on 6th August 1945.