Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister, was evacuated after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at a campaign speech in western Japan on Saturday, local media reported.

A loud explosion was heard, but the premier took cover and was unharmed while police subdued a man at the scene, public broadcaster NHK said. There were no injuries, NHK said, citing police.

The incident in Wakayama came less than a year after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, which traumatised the country and forced a security shake-up for public officials.

Mr Kishida was in the western city to deliver remarks in support of a ruling party candidate and had just finished sampling fish at a port when a disturbance rippled through the crowd gathered to hear him speak.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the incident, with local police declining to comment.

Continue reading full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/04/15/japan-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-evacuated-bomb-arrest/

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