UPDATE 2 - Explosions near park kill 1, injure 3 north of Tokyo

*UPDATES WITH POLICE STATEMENT ON SUSPECTED SUICIDE NOTE

TOKYO (AA) – At least one person was killed and three others injured Sunday after at least two explosions occurred around a park in a Japanese prefecture north of Tokyo.

Kyodo news agency cited police as saying that a festival was underway at the park in Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi prefecture, where one of the four victims was found dead with burns to the body.

An earlier blast rocked a nearby parking lot where several cars reportedly caught fire at around 11.30 a.m. (0230GMT).

According to news broadcaster NHK, material resembling fragments of an explosive device were seen protruding from the body of one of the injured at the park.

An investigation into the explosions and whether they are connected is ongoing.

The traditional cultural event at the park has been suspended.

NHK later cited police as saying that one of at least three cars that were burned contained what appeared to be a suicide note.

The car belonged to a 72-year-old former Self-Defense Force officer whose house reportedly burned down shortly before the blasts -- since when no one has been able to reach him.