Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was safely evacuated after an individual threw an object resembling a smoke bomb at him during an outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday. Following a loud explosion, Kishida took cover, while the police apprehended a suspect at the scene, as shown in Japanese media footage. According to the Nikkei newspaper, a police officer sustained minor injuries during the incident, citing Wakayama prefectural police.
Upon resuming his campaign speeches, Kishida stated, "Police are investigating the details of the loud explosive sound at the previous speech venue. 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."
This event brought to mind the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was killed with a homemade gun while campaigning for a parliamentary election in July last year. The shocking incident, occurring in a country where gun crimes are uncommon, led to a review of security measures for politicians who frequently interact with the public.
Masato Kaburagi, a 35-year-old company employee who witnessed the event, expressed his concerns to Reuters regarding the seemingly lax security, noting that it appeared a bystander initially subdued the suspect. Kaburagi, who attended the rally with his wife and mother, remarked, "I never thought something like this would happen so soon after what happened to Abe. I don't think I want to go to these political-related events anymore."
Various regions in Japan are set to hold by-elections for the lower house of parliament on April 23.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that the police have been directed to enhance security, and the government will take necessary measures to ensure safety at the Group of Seven industrial powers summit, which Kishida will host in Hiroshima next month. For the G7 foreign ministers' meeting beginning on Sunday in the resort city of Karuizawa, Japan's foreign ministry confirmed there would be no alterations to the security plan.
Matsuno mentioned that the government would wait for the police investigation's results before commenting on the suspect's potential motive.
The incident occurred late Saturday morning at the Saikazaki fishing harbor in Wakayama prefecture, about 65 km (40 miles) southwest of Osaka city. Media reports indicated that Kishida was being served local specialty seafood just prior to the explosion. News footage showed Kishida looking back in surprise as a canister landed near his feet, only to be pushed away by a security agent.
The Asahi newspaper identified a man who subdued the suspect as a staff member of the fishery cooperative. The suspect, a 24-year-old male from Kawanishi city, has been charged with forcible obstruction of business and has refused to speak until his lawyer is present, according to Kyodo news agency, citing investigators.
A representative of Wakayama's prefectural police headquarters informed Reuters that he could not provide answers regarding the incident. A woman who was at the scene reported to NHK that she saw an object flying overhead, which prompted her to flee quickly with her daughter. They then heard a loud noise, causing her daughter to cry.
