Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, was unharmed while leaving a public function after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was hurled in his direction.
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| Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
By Mehran Mazari
Local media said that someone was held on the spot in Wakayama, where Mr. Kishida was scheduled to deliver a speech.
One eyewitness claimed to have seen someone toss something, which was followed by smoke, while another claimed to have heard a loud noise. There were no reported injuries.
In a video, it could be seen that police were surrounding a suspect.
Police claim to have made an arrest, but they have so far refrained from making any additional comments.
According to Mr. Kishida, there was a "loud blast" at the location, according to the public broadcaster of Japan, NHK. "I apologize for worrying so many people and causing them trouble. Police are looking into the details."
In a video that NHK aired, it appears as though large groups of people are fleeing the site.
A man is seen being swarmed by individuals, who then hold him down and carry him away in the video.
The broadcaster further stated that the guy who was held was arrested on suspicion of obstructing business.
When the object was thrown, Mr. Kishida had just begun to speak after touring the Wakayama fishing harbor for a campaign event. He immediately took cover.
According to local media reports, he will carry out his agenda for the remainder of the day.
I was shocked, a witness at the scene told NHK. My heart continues to beat quickly.
When someone claimed to have seen something flying in the air, they claimed it gave them "a bad feeling, so we ran away incredibly fast."
Then, a really loud noise was heard. My daughter cried over it, and they continued.
Another eyewitness told NHK that as soon as it was reported that an explosive had been thrown, the crowd started to scatter in fear before the blast was audible.
A member of Mr. Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party named Hiroshi Moriyama expressed concern that such an incident occurred during an election campaign, which is the cornerstone of democracy. It is a heinous atrocity.
In Japan, violent crimes are incredibly uncommon. However, following the shooting death of former prime minister Shinzo Abe last year while out campaigning, there is anxiety regarding security around politicians.
