Who was the attacker targeting in episode 1?

Question

Who was the man with the knife targeting or trying to attack in episode 1?

He didn't really stop, he just left the knife and kept going. Was this a random event? Kind of like a drive-by?

Did the attacker want to kill a random person?

Answer 1

Who was the attacker targeting in Episode 1? No one in particular, the attacker was just a random criminal. In the light novel,

the man had 'a backpack in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other.' After Satoru was stabbed, as stated in the light novel, the man ran off shouting: “Get the hell outta my way!” (Volume 1).

While the man was made to look like just a random guy sprinting in to attack Satoru in the anime, the light novel was more specific. From this, it can be said that the man is a criminal or a thief (as he has a backpack but is not wearing it over his back, which he probably stole hurriedly). Also, the man yelled to get out of his way, meaning he was in a hurry trying to get away from someone or something.

The wiki synopsis also states that the man is a robber.