Japan’s Prime Minister Safely Evacuated After Blast

NYT WORLD: Japan’s Prime Minister Safely Evacuated After Blast
By Motoko Rich, Hikari Hida and Mike Ives
Section: World
Source: New York Times
Published Date: April 14, 2023 at 03:00AM

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was about to give a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Wakayama when a loud explosion was heard.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan was safely evacuated on Saturday from a site where he had been scheduled to give a speech and shortly before an explosion was heard, according to the police.

An object was thrown, prompting Mr. Kishida’s removal. By the time of the explosion, the prime minister had been taken away from the area, according to the police department in Wakayama, the western Japanese city where the episode happened. It is not clear what the explosive object was, but it did not result in serious damage or injuries, the police said.

Video footage posted by the national broadcaster, NHK, on Saturday showed police officers, a security detail and what appeared to be members of the public tackling the man the police say is the suspect. The man, who was carrying a gray and black backpack and wearing beige pants, black Adidas sneakers and a blue jacket, appeared to struggle as the police and security officers half-dragged, half-carried him from the scene.

Read More at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/world/asia/japan-prime-minister-blast-fumio-kishida.html