Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida narrowly escaped harm after an explosive device was thrown in his direction while campaigning at Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture on Saturday.
The incident, reminiscent of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination nine months ago, has sent shockwaves through Japan’s political landscape.
Kishida had been visiting the port to support his ruling party’s candidate in a local election.
Following the incident, a young man, believed to be the suspect, was arrested at the scene after allegedly throwing “the suspicious object,” according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.
Matsuno declined to provide details about the suspect’s motive and background, stating that the police are still investigating.
TV footage captured the dramatic scene, showing Kishida’s security detail reacting to the explosive as several people, including uniformed and plainclothes police officers, subdued the suspect.
