On Saturday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was safely evacuated after a man tossed what seemed to be a "smoke bomb" at a location where Kishida was going to conduct an election campaign address.
When the event occurred, Kishida was visiting the local Saikazaki Fishing Port in Wakayama City to promote his Party's candidate in a local election.
NHK, Japan's public network, presented footage of people running in terror as a thunderous explosion erupted. Kishida was spotted standing with his back to the audience. His security detail gestures to the ground near him, and the prime minister turns around, concerned.
“I heard an explosion about 10 seconds after the suspect was taken down. I don’t know what it was, but something that looked like it came from the explosion flew by me,” an unnamed resident told NHK.
A guy was detained after reportedly throwing what appeared to be "a smoke bomb" at the scene. Ryuji Kimura, a 24-year-old man from Hyogo prefecture, was identified as the suspect, according to Kyodo News.
The encounter resulted in minor injuries to a police officer. After the explosion, Kishida was promptly removed out of the venue, and his address there was canceled, according to NHK.
The suspect was discovered in possession of two cylindrical devices, one of which was utilized in the attack. Police are currently looking into his motivation since he refused to talk without the presence of an attorney.
“Elections are a bedrock of democracy. It is extremely unforgivable that such violence took place [at such a time],” chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters, according to Kyodo News.
According to Matsuno, authorities have been directed to increase protection for officials, and an inquiry into the event is underway.
Despite the explosion, Kishida kept campaigning for his governing party and later that day made a speech at the Wakayama train station. The tragedy, he warned, must not derail the local elections.
“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,” Kishida said.
