TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was brought to safety unharmed after what appeared to be a smoke grenade thrown by a suspect during an outdoor speech by Kishida in the country’s west on Saturday, Japanese media reported.
The Japanese Radio and Television Corporation said, according to Reuters, that an explosion was heard, but the Prime Minister took cover and was not injured, while the police managed to subjugate a man at the scene. It quoted the police as saying there were no injuries.
The broadcaster broadcast a video showing Kishida resuming his campaign speeches, saying "The police are investigating the details of the sound of the loud explosion that occurred at the place of the previous speech."Sorry to alarm many.. We are in the midst of an important election for our country. We must continue this together".
????????JAPAN PM KISHIDA EVACUATED FROM THE STUMP SPEECH UNHURT.pic.twitter.com/kiVK1BHqdP
— CN Wire (@Sino_Market) April 15, 2023
The incident brought to mind the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who held office for the longest period in modern Japanese history. Abe was shot with a homemade firearm in July while he was active in preparation for the parliamentary elections.
Japan will hold by-elections for the House of Representatives on April 23.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the police had been instructed to step up security and the government would take necessary measures to ensure security during the imminent G7 summit in Hiroshima.
He added that the government would await the results of the police investigation before commenting on the suspect’s possible motive.
The accident occurred on Saturday in the fishing port of Saikazaki in Wakayama, 65 km southwest of Osaka.
The media reported that seafood cooked in the local way was being served to Kishida just before the explosion. A news video showed Kishida looking back in surprise as shouts broke out at the site.
The broadcaster quoted an official at the scene as saying that a metal pipe measuring between 20 and 30 centimeters was thrown and fell near where Kishida was standing.
A delegate from Wakayama police headquarters told Reuters he could not answer questions about the incident. Kyodo news agency, citing investigators, said police had arrested a 24-year-old suspect from Kawanishi city whose surname was Kimura, and that he had remained silent so far.
Kishida is scheduled to host a G7 summit in Hiroshima next month. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said after the incident that there was no change in the security plan for a meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers that begins on Sunday in the city of Karuizawa.
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