A suspect reportedly tossed what seemed to be a smoke bomb at the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, on Saturday (today), but he was unharmed and safely taken away.
The premier sought shelter and was uninjured when a loud explosion was heard, according to national network NHK. Police also managed to apprehend a guy at the scene. Police, cited by NHK, stated there were no casualties.
In a video message aired by NHK, Kishida remarked as he began his campaign rallies, Police are looking into the specifics of the loud explosion heard at the prior speaking location. I’m sorry if I caused so much concern. A crucial election for our country is now taking place. Together, we have to keep going.
The event bore similarities to the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who served as the country’s leader for the longest period of time until being murdered last July while running for a parliamentary seat. The assassination of Abe startled the country—where gun crimes are incredibly rare—and caused a reconsideration of the safety measures used by politicians, who often interact with the people in public interactions. On April 23, several areas of Japan will have by-elections for the lower house of the country’s legislature. Hirokazu Matsuno, chief cabinet secretary, said the government will take all necessary precautions to maintain security at the next Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. Police have been directed to tighten up security, he added.
Matsuno stated that the government will hold off on making any statements on an alleged motive for the suspect until the conclusion of the police investigation. At the Saikazaki fishing harbor in Wakayama prefecture, around 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Osaka city, an event happened late on Saturday morning. Prior to the explosion, according to the media, Kishida was being served a cuisine of seafood dish from that area. As yells erupted all around, Kishida was seen on camera turning to look behind him in astonishment.
A young man was placed in a headlock as police mobbed the suspect, who was later pulled to the ground by a man who the Asahi newspaper described as a member of the fisheries cooperative’s employees. Later, a blanket of smoke and an explosion were visible not far from where Kishida had been. In NHK footage, people could be seen fleeing the area as multiple police officers seemed to pin a guy to the ground before taking him. According to an official at the site who was quoted by NHK, a metal pipe measuring 20–30 cm (7.8–11.8 inches) was thrown and fell not far from Kishida. A spokesperson of the prefectural police headquarters in Wakayama told Reuters he was unable to comment on the event.
According to Kyodo, who cited investigators, police detained a male suspect aged 24 from Kawanishi city with the last name Kimura. NHK was informed by a witness that she observed an item flying overhead and that it gave her a bad feeling, so they ran away very quickly. Then there was a really loud sound. Her daughter started crying because of it. The G7 summit will be hosted by Kishida in Hiroshima the following month. After the incident on Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry declared that there will be no modifications made to the security arrangements for the G7 foreign ministers’ conference, which will begin on Sunday in the resort town of Karuizawa.
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