Suspect Who Threw Bomb at Kishida Under Investigation...Knife Found in Backpack

At a campaign rally for the Wakayama Prefecture House of Representatives by-election in Japan, it was confirmed that the male suspect in his 20s who threw a homemade explosive device at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was also carrying a knife and a lighter at the time of the incident.

According to Japanese media including Kyodo News on the 16th, the Wakayama Prefectural Police arrested suspect Ryuji Kimura on the previous day on charges of "obstruction of business by intimidation" and searched his residence in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, on the morning of the 16th, securing powder presumed to be gunpowder and materials equivalent to 10 cardboard boxes. The police requested nearby residents to evacuate in preparation for any emergency.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Wakayama Prefectural Police also secured an object similar to the metal pipe-shaped explosive device thrown by the suspect at the scene of the incident and are investigating how Kimura obtained the gunpowder, believing that he used a bomb he directly manufactured for the crime.

Additionally, the police announced that a 13 cm long knife was found in Kimura's backpack. Kyodo News reported that considering the suspect had prepared weapons other than the explosive device, there is a possibility that he intended to attack the Prime Minister in various ways depending on the situation at the scene.

Kimura has been charged with obstruction of business by intimidation, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen (approximately 4.89 million KRW). However, the police plan to add attempted murder charges if they determine there was intent to kill during the crime.

Earlier, at around 11:30 a.m. on the 15th, Kimura threw a silver metal pipe-shaped object toward Prime Minister Kishida, who was preparing to give a speech. The object landed about 30 cm from the Prime Minister and exploded approximately 50 seconds later.

Prime Minister Kishida escaped unharmed under the protection of security guards. During the process of subduing the suspect, a male police officer in his 30s sustained a minor injury to his left arm, and a fisherman in his 70s was injured on his back by fragments presumed to have come from the explosive device.

Kimura is currently exercising his right to remain silent, reportedly stating, "I will talk when my lawyer arrives."