Kishida Evacuated As Blast Hits Venue Before His Speech

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated Saturday, April 15, 2023, after a bomb was thrown at him and exploded as he was about to stump for a candidate in the city of Wakayama, Kanako Katahara, Gavrieled Ninivaggi and Kathleen Benoza reported for Japan Times.

Photo Insert: One bomb exploded during the incident, while the other cylindrical object was seized by a police officer as the suspect, Ryuji Kimura, a 24-year-old from Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, was being held down.

Investigators confiscated two cylindrical objects from the scene believed to be explosive devices, NHK reported.

One exploded during the incident, while the other was seized by a police officer as the suspect, Ryuji Kimura, a 24-year-old from Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, was being held down, the broadcaster said.

The suspect has so far not responded to police questioning but has said he will talk once his lawyer arrives.

Video footage showed people at Saikazaki Fishing Port in Wakayama running for shelter at around 11:25 a.m., while a man was subdued first by what appeared to be two local fishermen.

Several others — possibly police officers at the scene — then held the suspect on the ground. A Twitter post also showed that people were escaping from the scene.

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