An explosion rocked a political rally in the western Japanese city of Wakayama on Saturday, just before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was set to give a speech. The country's national broadcaster, NHK, confirmed that Kishida was unharmed and safely evacuated.
The incident occurred during a campaign speech for a lower house candidate from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. As Kishida began speaking, an apparent smoke or pipe bomb was thrown at the venue, followed by a loud explosion. Video footage showed people running for shelter, while police officers subdued a man at the scene.
According to a member of the city council who was present, a “cylindrical silver object” flew “approximately two meters in front of me” just before the explosion occurred. Another witness also saw a “silver cylinder” that was “thrown and then shone briefly before a loud noise was heard.”
Wakayama is located near Nara, where former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during a campaign speech last July. Abe was shot with a homemade weapon while campaigning for the LDP in Nara Prefecture. The Japanese government will be keen to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated and will likely be reviewing security measures for all high-profile politicians.
The incident is a serious security lapse ahead of the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima, and officials are likely to investigate the incident thoroughly. The priority, for now, is to ensure the safety of Prime Minister Kishida and those around him.
Japan is currently in the midst of local elections, and Kishida was campaigning for a lower house candidate when the incident occurred. The country's political climate is tense, with public opinion divided over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming general election.
The incident has sparked concerns about political violence in Japan, a country that has traditionally enjoyed a low crime rate. The government will need to address these concerns and reassure the public that it is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens and political leaders.
While the incident is concerning, it is important to note that Kishida was safely evacuated and that no one was harmed in the explosion. Japan has a robust security apparatus, and officials will no doubt be working hard to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
