Japan’s PM Kishida unharmed after explosion during election speech

Kathmandu: Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida escaped unharmed on Saturday after an explosion occurred during an election speech.

When Kishida was about to begin an election speech in the city of Wakayama, a smoke bomb was thrown at the venue, followed by a loud explosion. He was later evacuated to safety.

Video footage released by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK showed members of the public fleeing and a man being arrested following the incident. The footage showed multiple men, believed to be police officers, holding the suspect on the ground.

Other pictures showed a silver cylinder that appeared to have been thrown in Kishida’s direction. Local news agency Kyodo reported that a man had been arrested after throwing ‘what appeared to be a smoke bomb’.

Kishida, who was visiting the port for a speech to support a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate for a by-election planned for later this month, left the scene unhurt after the incident, which took place as he was speaking with a candidate of the ruling party.

The incident comes just nine months after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe with a homemade gun while campaigning for the LDP in Nara Prefecture, which borders Wakayama.

The killing of Abe prompted police to revise its rules for VIP protection.

LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi said he had spoken to the prime minister who was safe, and added, ‘It is extremely regrettable that such an incident took place during an election which is the foundation of democracy. I strongly condemn it.’