Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida narrowly escaped harm on Saturday 15th April 2023 when an explosive device was thrown in his direction at a port in Wakayama, according to local media reports.
The incident prompted the immediate evacuation of the Prime Minister, but fortunately he was unharmed.
Following the incident, Kishida was promptly evacuated to safety, while a suspect was apprehended at the scene. The suspect, identified by Japanese media as Ryuji Kimura, a 24-year-old resident of Hyogo prefecture, was taken into custody by authorities.
Prime Minister Kishida was in Wakayama as part of a tour of the region, where he spoke with local politicians and business leaders. When the event occurred, he was on his way to a meeting with fishermen and members of the local fishing sector.
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TV footage showed Kishida standing with his back facing the crowd, while members of his security detail suddenly drew his attention to the ground nearby, causing him to turn around in a state of alarm.
The camera then shifted its focus to the crowd as a number of individuals, including uniformed and plainclothes police officers, rushed towards the suspect.
The suspect, who was wearing a white surgical mask and holding what seemed to be a long silver tube, was quickly apprehended.
A pipe- or smoke-bomb looked to be floating through the air in Kishida’s direction moments before he was to begin his speech, according to TV footage. He was surrounded by security, and a video clip appeared to show a fisherman squabbling with the suspect.
According to government officials, a 24-year-old man from the Hyogo region was arrested on suspicion of obstructing business. A police official in Wakayama confirmed that there is no available information regarding the possible motive behind the incident.
A witness reported hearing screams and saw someone being captured just before the explosion.
“I ran frantically, and then, 10 or so seconds later, there was a loud sound and my kid started crying. I was stunned, my heart is still beating fast,” one woman told NHK.
A man at the scene told NHK: “When we all stopped in front of the podium, someone started saying ‘culprit’ or something, or ‘an explosive was thrown’, so everyone started dispersing fast. And then, about 10 seconds after the culprit was captured, there was a blast.”
Later on, Kishida resumed campaigning, including a stop at a local train station.
“There was a loud blast sound at the previous speech venue. Police are investigating details, but I’d like to apologize for worrying many people and causing them trouble,” he said.
“An election that’s important to our country is taking place, and we must work together and follow through on it.”
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Following an investigation that confirmed “shortcomings” in the security measures for former Japanese leader Abe, the head of Japan’s National Police Agency, as well as the local police chief, resigned from their positions.
The Japanese authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with police and security forces working to determine the motive behind the attack. The identity of the man arrested at the scene has not been released, and it is not yet clear if he acted alone or as part of a larger group.
The Prime Minister has not yet released a statement about the incident, but government officials have assured the public that the incident will not disrupt the Prime Minister’s schedule or his commitment to serving the Japanese people.
