The assassination attempt occurred on
11 May 1891, while Nicholas was returning to Kyoto after a day trip to
Lake Biwa in
Ōtsu,
Shiga Prefecture. He was attacked by
Tsuda Sanzō (1855–1891), one of his escort policemen, who swung at the Tsarevich's face with a saber. The quick action of his cousin,
Prince George of Greece and Denmark, who parried the second blow with his cane, saved his life. Tsuda then attempted to flee, but two
rickshaw drivers in Nicholas's entourage chased him down and pulled him to the ground. Nicholas was left with a 9 centimeter long scar on the right side of his forehead, but his wound was not life-threatening.