Japan: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida evacuated after suspicious explosion

The man suspected of using a smoke bomb at an event attended by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida when he was subdued on April 15, 2023. AP

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed after an explosion caused by an object resembling a "smoke bomb" on Saturday (April 15th) while attending a public election meeting at a fishing port in Wakayama Prefecture, 65 kilometers west of Osaka. The incident comes less than a year after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and as Japan hosts several G7 ministerial meetings this weekend.

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With our correspondent in Tokyo, Frédéric Charles

The prime minister was enjoying a local delicacy in the fishing port of Saikazaki when the sound of an explosion sounded, followed by white smoke. A young man had just thrown a smoke bomb at him, apparently at him. He was immediately subdued by police officers. Fumio Kishida was evacuated without difficulty. He had come to support a candidate of his Conservative party in the upcoming by-elections to the lower house of Parliament.

No one was injured in this incident. Its author has been identified. He is 24 years old but it is not known why he targeted the Prime Minister. According to media reports, he was arrested on suspicion of "obstructing commercial activity". Fumio Kishida resumed his electoral activities after this scare.

Japan remains reeling from the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The suspect blamed him for his ties to the Moon sect, known as the Unification Church, which he accused of ruining his family. Since then, the police have stepped up protection measures for their leaders in a country where political violence is rare.

This weekend, Japan is hosting meetings of G7 foreign and environment ministers. In mid-May, the summit of G7 heads of state and government will take place in Hiroshima.

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• Japan
• Fumio Kishida
• Shinzo Abe