Japan PM Kishida attacked with smoke bomb amid Wakayama speech, evacuated safely

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated safely after an apparent smoke or pipe bomb was thrown.

At the leader and a loud explosion was heard just before he began a stump speech in the city of Wakayama on Saturday, local media reported.

According to the public broadcaster NHK, there was a sound similar to an explosion at the location. It was reported that Kishida took refuge at the site of the incident and was not harmed.

Video footage aired by Japanese media showed people who had gathered at the scene running for shelter, while a man was subdued by several others who appeared to be police officers at the scene. Kishida left the scene unhurt after the incident, which took place as he was speaking with a candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The PM’s speech was a part of the official campaigning for a lower house by-election for the Wakayama No. 1 district. Kishida’s speech has been cancelled in light of the attack.

The incident comes months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot in July last year during a stump speech before the upper house election.