Japan PM Fumio Kishida evacuated after what appears to be smoke bomb thrown

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escaped unscathed from a public event after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was thrown.

According to local media, one person was detained at the scene in Wakayama where Kishida was scheduled to give a speech.

One witness said he saw smoke coming out after someone threw something, and another said he heard a big bang. No injuries have been reported.

The video showed the officers piled on top of the suspected suspect.

Police have said they have made an arrest, but have so far declined to comment further.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said Kishida said there was a “big blast” at the venue. “The police are investigating the details, but we apologize for causing concern and inconvenience to many people.”

NHK broadcast footage shows crowds appearing to flee the scene.

Footage also shows people crowding around one man, holding him down, and then carrying him away.

The detained person was arrested on suspicion of obstructing business, the station also reported.

Mr. Kishida visited a fishing port in Wakayama for a campaign event, and when he started to give a speech, an object was thrown and he hid himself.

Local media reports said he will continue with his scheduled schedule for the rest of the day.

A woman who was at the scene told NHK, “I was surprised. My heart is pounding.”

“I had a bad feeling and ran away incredibly fast,” said one person who said he had seen a flying object.

“At that point, it was so loud that my daughter cried,” they added.

Another witness told NHK that someone said explosives had been thrown, so the crowd began to panic before the explosion was heard.

Hiroshi Moriyama, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Kishida, said, “It is regrettable that this happened in the midst of the election campaign, which is the foundation of democracy. It is an unforgivable act of cruelty.”