Saikazaki bombing

Above: Saikazaki fishing port photographed from the opposite shore.（The structure in the center of the image is where Kishida was attacked. Photo taken November 18, 2018.）
Below: Fumio Kishida gives a press conference the next day regarding the explosion incident.
Map around Saikazaki fishing port
Native name岸田首相襲撃事件 (Prime Minister Kishida attack incident)[1]
首相演説会場爆発物事件 (Prime Minister's speech venue bomb incident)
LocationSaikazaki fishing port, Saikazaki, Wakayama, Kansai region, Japan
Coordinates34°11′20.1″N 135°08′41.4″E / 34.188917°N 135.144833°E / 34.188917; 135.144833
Date15 April 2023 (2023-04-15)
c. 12:30 pm (JST, UTC+9)
TargetFumio Kishida
Attack type
Explosion by pipe bomb projectile
WeaponsPipe bomb (30 cm)
Deaths0
Injured2
AccusedRyūji Kimura (Japanese: 木村 隆二)

On 15 April 2023, a pipe bomb exploded near Fumio Kishida, the 101st Prime Minister of Japan, who came to the fishing port of Saikazaki, Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, in the Kansai region to give a campaign stump speech for the 2023 Japan by-elections.

Just before Kishida was about to give a stump speech, a man threw a pipe bomb. The man who threw the object was captured by local fishermen. Kishida was not injured because he was evacuated at the moment the pipe bomb was thrown. Fifty seconds after the bomb was thrown, the pipe bomb exploded, injuring two people.

The suspect, 24-year-old Ryūji Kimura (Japanese: 木村 隆二), was dissatisfied with the judiciary system over suffrage and demand deposit and asked a lawyer such as Kenji Utsunomiya to represent him.

Background

In September 2022, Shūhei Kishimoto (Japanese Member of Parliament from Wakayama 1st district) resigned in order to run for the 2022 governor of Wakayama election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on 23 April 2023 in Wakayama Prefecture.[2]

Because Hirofumi Kado, a former MP and a Liberal Democratic Party politician, ran for the by-election,[2] Kishida visited Wakayama to support him as the President of the LDP.

Incident

On 15 April 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was giving a speech in the city of Wakayama in support of a Liberal Democratic Party politician, a candidate running for the by-election,[3] when what was described as a "pipe bomb–like" explosive device was thrown and landed one meter beside him.[4] Kishida was unharmed by the explosive as he was evacuated from the area by the police bodyguards from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police,[5] but a bystander and a police officer suffered minor injuries.[6][7] The explosive device dropped near Kishida exploded less than a minute later.[4] After the explosion, people fled as Kishida was evacuated.[8] While the man who threw it was preparing to throw a second bomb,[9] two local fishermen held the man down.[10] The man was arrested at the scene by plainclothes police officers on suspicion of "obstruction of business".[11] The whole incident was caught on camera. According to residents living near the arrested man's home in Kawanishi, Hyōgo, he appeared to be calm and gentle.[12]

Following the incident, Kishida stated, "I am sorry for causing many people to be concerned. We are in the middle of an important election for our country. We must carry this on together."[13] The following day, Kishida vowed to do everything he could possibly do to ensure safety prior to the 49th G7 summit which will be held in Japan in May 2023.[14] The incident came nine months after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe on 8 July 2022.[15]

On 16 April 2023, security checks intensified for the remainder of the election campaign.[16]

Kimura was indicted by Wakayama prosecutors on 7 September 2023 for attempted murder, among other charges.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nagato, Masako (2023-04-19). 岸田首相襲撃事件 民主主義攻撃と各紙非難 「選挙運動貫徹を」と産経 [Media condemns attack on Prime Minister Kishida, calling it an attack on democracy, and Sankei says "Be thorough in your campaign"]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. 1 2 衆議院 補欠選挙告示 千葉5区 和歌山1区 山口2区 4区 23日投票 (in Japanese). NHK. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  3. ↑ Ives, Mike; Hida, Hikari (14 April 2023). "Japan's Prime Minister Safely Evacuated After Blast". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 【速報中】岸田首相 演説先で爆発音 首相は無事 24歳の男逮捕 (in Japanese). NHK. 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Kishida incident shows protecting VIPs from lone wolves remains a tall order". 16 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Police seize likely explosive powder from attack suspect's home | the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis".
  7. ↑ 「背中に血が…」破片とみられるもの当たった男性 当時の状況語る 岸田総理の演説前に爆発. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Japan's PM escapes explosion unharmed after suspected attack | Japan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  9. ↑ 2発めがあった？ 取り押さえたのは「漁港のおっちゃん」…岸田首相演説会場の爆破事件でまたも浮き彫りになった "要人警護の穴". Smart FLASH (in Japanese). 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. ↑ 首相がエビ試食した直後…「お前何やっとんや！」 男を取り押さえたのは地元漁師. The Sankei News (in Japanese). 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Khalil, Shaimaa; Bubalo, Mattea (15 April 2023). "Japan PM Fumio Kishida evacuated after what appears to be smoke bomb thrown". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  12. ↑ 岸田首相襲撃 容疑者の24歳男「優しい人という印象だった」 川西の自宅近辺で驚きの声. Kobe Shimbun (in Japanese). 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Japan PM Kishida evacuated unhurt after explosion at speech- media". Reuters. 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Japan's Kishida vows safety of G7 meetings after 'smoke bomb' attack". Channel News Asia. 16 April 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Jozuka, Emi; Ogura, Junko (15 April 2023). "Man arrested after explosion prompts evacuation of Japanese leader Fumio Kishida from speech venue". Tokyo: CNN. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "【フォト】「警備に驚いた」「怖い」 厳戒態勢下、各地で遊説". 16 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "Man charged over attempt to assassinate Japanese prime minister". The Independent. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
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