The Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, was evacuated unharmed from a campaign event after an explosive device was thrown at him on Saturday. The incident occurred in the Saikazaki port area of Wakayama prefecture, where Kishida was supporting his party’s candidate in a local election. The explosion happened just before Kishida was set to begin his speech.
According to witnesses, police wrestled a suspect to the ground after he allegedly threw the explosive, causing smoke to fill the air. Screaming bystanders scrambled to get away from the area. A young man believed to be the suspect was arrested at the scene on Saturday. TV footage showed several uniformed and plainclothes police officers surrounding the man and dragging him over the ground.
The attack came on the eve of a major international forum in Japan, which was scheduled to take place in the city of Kyoto. The annual G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was expected to bring together top diplomats from around the world to discuss pressing global issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and international security.
In response to the incident, Kishida expressed his gratitude to the police officers and other first responders who acted quickly to ensure his safety. He also condemned the attack, saying that violence has no place in politics.
The incident has raised concerns about political violence in Japan, which has long been considered a relatively safe country. Although violent attacks against politicians are rare in Japan, the incident has underscored the need for heightened security measures at public events.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently in police custody and is being questioned by authorities. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
