Explosion at port in Japan, Prime Minister Kishida narrowly escapes

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida narrowly escaped an explosion on Saturday morning during an election campaign at a port in western Japan. Officers said someone had thrown an explosive device towards them. Police arrested a suspect on the spot. No one was injured in the blast and Kishida plans to continue campaigning on Saturday. However, the incident evoked memories of the assassination of Kishida’s predecessor Shinzo Abe nine months ago during an election campaign rally in the western city of Nara.

Kishida was in Wakayama’s Saizaki port to encourage a candidate for his ruling party in local elections. The Prime Minister was about to start his speech when there was an explosion. Chief Cabinet Minister Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that a young man believed to be a suspect was arrested at the scene on Saturday. He allegedly threw a “suspicious object”. Matsuno declined to comment on the suspect’s motive or background, saying police were investigating.

In television footage, Kishida is seen standing with his back to the crowd. His security personnel suddenly turn to the ground near him and the Prime Minister is seen in a daze. The camera quickly pans to the crowd and several police officers in uniform and plainclothes apprehend a young man wearing a white surgical mask. The young man holds a tool in his hand. As they pin the man to the ground and try to remove the tube from his hand, a loud explosion is heard near Kishida.

It is not yet known what the explosive device was or how many suspects were involved, but some reports say it was a smoke or pipe bomb. There were no casualties in the incident which took place on the eve of an important international meeting in Japan. Matsuno said Kishida was not hurt and plans to make an election speech on Saturday. He said, “Elections are an important part of democracy and we should never tolerate obstruction through threats or violence. I believe it is in this context that the Prime Minister’s decision to continue the election campaign programme.

Matsuno said he has instructed the national police to do everything possible to ensure the safety of people coming to Japan to attend meetings this weekend ahead of the G7 summit in May. Abe’s assassination shocked the nation. An investigation into the incident revealed lapses in his security. After this, police security measures were changed in Japan. Security has been beefed up in Japan as some of the world’s most powerful democracy’s most senior diplomats arrive here for G-7 foreign ministers’ meetings on Sunday.

Kishida will host the G7 leaders’ summit on May 19-21 in his hometown of Hiroshima. An eyewitness told NHK that she was among the crowd when she saw something coming through the air from behind and suddenly heard a loud explosion, after which she fled with her children. Another eyewitness said that people were shouting and that he saw a man being grabbed just before the explosion. The assailant allegedly fired from a country-made gun to kill Abe. The attacker, Tetsuya Yamagami, has been charged with murder and violating gun control laws, among other charges.

Abe’s alleged killer told investigators he killed Abe, one of Japan’s most influential leaders, because of his ties to a religious group he hated. The killing prompted the resignation of several top local and national police officers in Japan, known for public safety and strict gun laws. Also, the guidelines related to the security of politicians and other eminent people were tightened.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.

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