Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is being bombarded with explosives.
At around 11:30 am on the 15th, Prime Minister Kishida completed a site inspection in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan to support the by-election, and just before starting his street speech, a loud explosion occurred.
According to eyewitness accounts, a man threw a metal object that looked like a short iron pipe, followed by an explosion followed by white smoke.
Security personnel quickly removed the explosives and evacuated the scene while wrapping Prime Minister Kishida.
Prime Minister Kishida is said to be unharmed, and no injuries have been reported.
Local media reported that the suspect is Yuji Kimura, a resident of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
While the suspect is known to be currently exercising his right to remain silent, police say they are trying to determine a motive for the crime.
Prime Minister Kishida said the incident would not disrupt by-elections for the House of Representatives and House of Councilors on the 23rd. At the same time, the campaign to support the election scheduled for this afternoon continued.
In July last year, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed while campaigning for the House of Councilors elections.
See also: Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe shot dead during campaign campaign
VOA News