On Saturday, April 15, a huge explosion was heard right before the Japanese Prime Minister began a campaign address in the city of Wakayama in Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was safely evacuated as reported by the local media reports. It appeared from the video that a smoke or pipe bomb was hurled at the Japanese leader.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated. An explosion-like sound was heard at the scene, reports Reuters, quoting Japanese media.
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023
According to the reports, there was the sound of an explosion at the location. Kishida reportedly sought sanctuary at the venue and escaped unharmed.
The video footage of the incident was made public by the Japanese media in which several police officers could be seen protecting the Prime Minister while others who had gathered at the scene for the speech could be seen fleeing for safe shelter.
BREAKING 🚨 Japan’s Prime Minister evacuated after blast at speech in Wakayama, local media reports pic.twitter.com/AHJppKI16m
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 15, 2023
The PM’s address was an important part of the official campaigning for the Wakayama No. 1 district’s lower house by-election. However, the incident has forced the cancellation of Kishida’s address.
The event occurred a few months after Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister of Japan, was tragically assassinated in July 2022 while giving a campaign speech before the upper house election.
