Japan PM Kishida unhurt in 'smoke bomb' scare, resumes campaigning
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[April 15, 2023]
By Kantaro Komiya and Chris Gallagher
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated
unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an
outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday.
Kishida took cover after a loud explosion was heard while police subdued
a man at the scene, Japanese media footage showed. A police officer
suffered minor injuries in the incident, the Nikkei newspaper reported,
citing Wakayama prefectural police.
"Police are investigating the details of the loud explosive sound at the
previous speech venue," Kishida said when he resumed his campaign
speeches. "I am sorry for causing many people to be concerned. We are in
the middle of an important election for our country. We must carry this
on together."
The incident echoed the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, Japan's longest-serving modern leader, who was shot with a homemade
gun last July while campaigning for a parliamentary election.
Abe's killing shocked the nation, where gun crimes are exceedingly rare,
and prompted a review of security for politicians, who routinely press
the flesh with the public.
Masato Kaburagi, a 35-year-old company worker who witnessed the
incident, told Reuters security still seemed lax, as it appeared the
suspect was first taken down by another bystander.
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"I never thought something like this would happen so soon after what
happened to Abe," said Kaburagi, who attended the rally with his wife
and mother. "I don't think I want to go to these political-related
events anymore."
By-elections in various regions for the lower house of Japan's
parliament are to be held on April 23.
G7 SUMMIT SECURITY UNCHANGED
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said police have been
instructed to boost security, and that the government will do what is
necessary to ensure security at a summit Kishida will host next month of
the Group of Seven industrial powers in Hiroshima.
Japan's foreign ministry said there would be no change to the security
plan for a G7 foreign ministers' meeting starting on Sunday in the
resort city of Karuizawa.
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![](../images/041523PIX/news_u10.jpg)
A man, believed to be a suspect who
threw a pipe-like object near Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
during his outdoor speech, is held by police officers at Saikazaki
fishing port in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, south-western Japan
April 15, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. Mandatory credit
Kyodo via REUTERS
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Apr/15/images/ads/current/peasleymemorials_lda_2022.png)
Matsuno said the government would wait for results from the police
investigation before commenting on a potential motive from the
suspect.
The incident late on Saturday morning occurred at the Saikazaki
fishing harbour in Wakayama prefecture, some 65 km (40 miles)
southwest of Osaka city.
Kishida was being served local speciality seafood just before the
explosion, media reported. News video showed Kishida looking behind
him in surprise as shouts filled the semi-enclosed area near the
waterside. A canister landed near his feet before being knocked away
by a security agent.
A man identified by the Asahi newspaper as a staffer of the fishery
cooperative grabbed a young man in a headlock as police swarmed the
suspect and dragged him to the ground. About 50 seconds later, an
explosion rang out and a cloud of smoke could be seen near where
Kishida had been standing.
News footage showed crowds running away as several police officers
appeared to pin a man to the ground before removing him from the
scene. A 20-30 cm (8- to 12-inch) metal pipe was thrown and landed
close to where Kishida was standing, NHK reported, citing an
official at the scene.
A 24-year old male suspect from Kawanishi city, charged with
forcible obstruction of business, has refused to talk until his
lawyer arrives, Kyodo news agency said, citing investigators.
A representative of Wakayama's prefectural police headquarters told
Reuters he could not answer questions about the incident.
A woman on the scene told NHK that she saw an object flying overhead
and "it gave me a bad feeling, so we ran away unbelievably fast.
Then we heard a really loud noise. It made my daughter cry."
(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya, Chris Gallagher, Elaine Lies, Daniel
Leussink and Tokyo Bureau; Writing by Rocky Swift; Editing by
Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron-Moore and William Mallard)
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