More fear than harm. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated following an explosion as he prepared to deliver a speech at the western fishing port of Saikazaki, Japanese media reported on Saturday . Safe and sound, he was finally able to quickly resume his electoral activities.
Several media outlets, including the Kyodo news agency, reported that an object resembling a “smoke bomb” was thrown, but there appeared to be no injuries or visible damage at the scene. Television images showed a movement of the crowd, then the sound of an explosion followed by an emission of white smoke.
“There was a strong explosion (…) The police are investigating to find out the details, but I would like to apologize for having worried and inconvenienced many people”, Fumio Kishida declared this Saturday at the start of the afternoon ( Japanese time) in front of Wakayama station, a few kilometers from the scene of the incident. “An important campaign for our country is unfolding, and we must work together and see it through,” he added.
G7 meetings this weekend
One person was arrested at the scene. No official confirmation was immediately issued by authorities, and police declined to comment, but television broadcaster NHK released footage showing a man on the ground surrounded by several others as the crowd dispersed. The man was arrested on suspicion of “obstructing business activity”, according to the channel.
The Japanese Prime Minister had just finished tasting fish at the venue and was about to address the crowd in support of a candidate from his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the upcoming by-elections for the lower house of parliament when the incident occurred.
“It is unfortunate that such an incident happened in the middle of an election campaign, which is the foundation of democracy. It is an unforgivable atrocity,” Hiroshi Moriyama, head of electoral strategy for the LDP, told NHK.
Japan has tightened its security arrangements after the assassination last July of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot and killed while speaking at an election campaign event. This new incident comes as Japan hosts G7 ministerial meetings in the north and center of the country this weekend, and the summit of leaders of the countries of this group is to be held in May in Hiroshima.