When the Japanese prime minister was about to give a speech in a fishing port in the west of the country, an explosion erupted on Saturday. Quickly evacuated, the statesman is alive and well.
“A Smoke Bomb”. According to several local media, it would be the object at the origin of the incident. Though no one was injured or property damage noted, the blast happened in the middle of an election campaign this Saturday during a speech by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Television footage showed crowd movement, then the sound of an explosion, followed by an emission of white smoke.
The minister was preparing to address the crowd to endorse a candidate from his Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) in the upcoming by-elections to the lower house of parliament.
“It is unfortunate that such an incident has taken place in the midst of an election campaign that is the foundation of democracy. It is an unforgivable atrocity,” Hiroshi Moriyama, the PLD’s head of electoral strategy, told public broadcaster NHK.
Fumio Kishida was able to safely resume his electoral activity, which had been interrupted in the morning. “There was a loud explosion (…) The police are investigating to find out the details, but I want to apologize for worrying and bothering many people,” he said.
An arrested person
One person was arrested on the spot at Saikazaki Fishing Port in Wakayama Department. While NHK aired footage showing a man being arrested by police as the crowd dispersed, official confirmation was not immediately issued by authorities. The police also declined to comment.
This incident commemorates the assassination last July of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot while speaking at a campaign rally. As a result, Japan had strengthened its security apparatus.
The blast also came as the country is hosting G7 ministerial meetings in the north and center of the country this weekend and the summit of leaders of the group’s countries is due to take place in Hiroshima in May.