A pipe-like object was thrown near Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during an outdoor speech, news agency Reuters reported. Fumio Kishida was evacuated, Japanese media said.
An explosion-like sound was heard at the scene, public broadcaster NHK reported. Fumio Kishida took cover at the site of the explosion site and remained safe, it added.
One witness told NHK that she saw something come flying from behind and that there was a sudden loud noise hearing which she fled with her children. Another witness said people were screaming and that he saw someone being apprehended.
Japanese PM was was unharmed in the incident and resumed his election campaign, local media reported. Japan is holding nationwide local elections.
Videos shared on social media showed officers remocing a man as people cleared the area. Fumio Kishida was beginning a speech after touring a fishing harbour in the western Japanese city when the incident occurred, NHK reported. A man believed to be a suspect was apprehended at the scene, the report added.
The incident comes just nine months after Fumio Kishida’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech. Japan is due to host a Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ summit in Hiroshima next month.
