Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed after an explosion – possibly caused by a smoke bomb – at the port of Saikazaki in western Wakayama Prefecture. Kishida was in Saikazaki to attend an event in support of the Liberal Democratic Party’s local election candidate. NHK has broadcast footage showing police blocking one person as the crowd disperses: he could allegedly be responsible for the crime.
The prime minister was about to begin his speech outdoors in the city of Wakayama when a pipe-like object was thrown near him. An explosive roar was heard at the scene, public broadcaster NHK said. No injuries were reported and Kishida was immediately rescued by his escort. As previously mentioned, a man was arrested shortly after the robbery, but local police were reluctant to comment at this time, so it’s not yet clear what the charges against him are.
Several local media, including the Kyodo news agency, are reporting that a “smoke bomb” was allegedly shot at the Tokyo head of government. All of this comes on the eve of a series of G7 ministerial meetings ahead of the summit that Kishida will host in Hiroshima on May 19-21, and just nine months after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated while delivering a speech became election in the western city of Nara.