This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/15/japan-pm-rushed-to-safety-after-object-thrown-at-him-and-blast-heard

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Japan PM evacuated unharmed after explosion following suspected attack Japan’s PM escapes explosion unharmed after suspected attack
(about 5 hours later)
Man detained after what looked like a smoke bomb was thrown at Fumio Kishida while he delivered a speechMan detained after what looked like a smoke bomb was thrown at Fumio Kishida while he delivered a speech
The Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, was evacuated unharmed after an explosion at a western port, while a suspect was apprehended for allegedly throwing the explosive, local media reported. The Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has escaped unhurt after he was apparently targeted by an explosive device on Saturday morning. It comes less than a year after the country’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was shot dead while making a campaign speech.
Kishida was visiting the Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture on Saturday, to support his ruling party’s candidate in a local election. The explosion occurred just before he was to begin his speech, NHK said. No injuries were reported and Kishida was taken to Wakayama prefectural police headquarters, it added. Kishida was safely evacuated after the incident, while a suspect – named by Japanese media as Ryuji Kimura, 24, a resident of Hyogo prefecture – was arrested at the scene, reports said.
“Police are investigating the details of the loud explosive sound at the previous speech venue,” Kishida said when he resumed his campaign speeches. Kishida was visiting Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture, western Japan, to support his ruling Liberal Democratic party’s candidate in a local election when a device exploded.
“I am sorry for causing many people to be concerned. We are in the middle of an important election for our country. We must carry this on together.” TV footage showed what appeared to be a pipe bomb or smoke bomb flying through the air in Kishida’s direction moments before he was due to make a speech. He was shielded by security personnel, while a video clip appeared to show a fisherman tussling with the suspect.
Byelections in various regions for the lower house of Japan’s parliament are being held later this month. Kishida was seen standing with his back to the crowd in TV footage. When members of his security detail suddenly pointed to the ground near him, he turned around, looking alarmed. The camera quickly switched to the crowd as several people, including uniformed and plainclothes police officers, converged on the suspect, who was wearing a white surgical mask and holding what appeared to be a long silver tube.
The incident comes only nine months after former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. The assassination shocked the nation and a subsequent investigation found holes in Abe’s security and led to reinforcement of Japan’s police security measures. As they collapsed on top of the man and tried to remove the tube from his hands, a much larger explosion was heard near where Kishida had been standing. The crowd scattered in panic as police dragged the man away.
The suspected attack also comes as a series of Group of Seven ministerial meetings begins this weekend ahead of the May summit that Kishida will host in Hiroshima. The explosion sent out plumes of white smoke. Footage and photos from the scene showed a silver, pipe-like object on the ground, but it was not immediately clear whether it had caused the blast.
A man believed to be a suspect was arrested at the scene. NHK footage showed several uniformed and plainclothes police officers gathered around the man, pressing him to the ground and dragging him to the side. The suspect, identified only as a young male, allegedly threw the explosive, NHK said. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said that no one was injured in the attack, and Kishida was taken to the Wakayama prefectural police headquarters.
One witness told NHK she was among the crowd and saw something come flying from behind and that there was a sudden loud noise and she fled with her children. Another witness said people were screaming and that he saw someone being apprehended right before the explosion occurred. When he resumed his campaign speeches, Kishida said: “Police are investigating the details of the loud explosive sound at the previous speech venue.”
A man at the scene told the broadcaster that “when we all stopped in front of the podium, someone started saying ‘culprit!’ or something, or ‘an explosive was thrown’, so everyone started dispersing fast. “I am sorry for causing concern to many people. We are in the middle of an important election for our country. We must carry on together.”
“And then, about 10 seconds after the culprit was captured, there was a blast,” he said. Parliamentary byelections and local elections are being held in Japan later this month.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report The incident comes only nine months after Abe – Japan’s longest-serving prime minister – was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. The assassination shocked Japan, where gun crime is extremely rare. An investigation found serious flaws in Abe’s security and led to heightened security around politicians and other public figures.
Saturday’s attack occurred as Japan, which holds the G7 presidency, prepared to host a series of international summits, beginning with a meeting of foreign ministers this Sunday and culminating ina leaders’ summit in Hiroshima in May.
Isao Itabashi, an anti-terrorism expert at the Council for Public Policy, told NHK: “The fact that an incident like this happened at this time must be taken seriously.”
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, refused to comment on the suspect’s possible motive, telling reporters that a police investigation was under way.
Matsuno said: “Elections are the core of democracy and we should never tolerate threats or obstruction by violence, and I believe (continuing on with his campaign schedule) was the prime minister’s judgment in that context.”
One witness said some in the crowd panicked after they realised what was unfolding. She told NHK: “I ran frantically, and then 10 or so seconds later, there was a loud sound and my child started crying. I was stunned. My heart is still racing.”
Another said he heard screams and saw someone, believed to be Kimura, being apprehended shortly before the device exploded.
A man at the scene told NHK: “When we all stopped in front of the podium, someone started saying ‘culprit’ or something, or ‘an explosive was thrown’, so everyone started dispersing fast. And then, about 10 seconds after the culprit was captured, there was a blast.”