A 20-year-old US Marine has been arrested in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture on suspicion of robbing and murdering a Japanese woman, according to police.

The suspect, identified as Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Police allege he killed 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha on Saturday. Ballard has denied the allegations.

Japanese authorities reportedly identified the suspect after surveillance footage showed a man entering the hotel with Yagi and later leaving alone with her belongings. Yagi was found dead at the scene.

The incident has prompted a strong reaction from Japanese officials. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi protested with the United States and called for full cooperation with the investigation, while Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed outrage over the case.

The US Marine Corps said it was cooperating with Japanese authorities and that the Marine remains in local custody while the investigation continues.

The case has also renewed concerns in Okinawa over the presence of US military personnel and longstanding tensions surrounding US bases on the island.