Japan's Kishida to Proceed with Terror Suspect's Mental Evaluation... "Maintaining Silence for a Week"

Difficulty in identifying motive due to exercise of right to remain silent
Work to verify power by replicating explosive device also underway

Japanese prosecutors are reportedly moving forward with a psychiatric evaluation of Kimura Ryuji (24), the suspect who threw an explosive device at Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

According to a report by Mainichi Shimbun on the 22nd, the Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office in Japan is carefully considering the necessity of a psychiatric evaluation, judging that Kimura's criminal responsibility may become an issue in court.

Criminal responsibility refers to the intellectual state in which a person can control themselves and be held legally accountable. Tetsuya Yamagami, who assassinated former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in July last year, also underwent a psychiatric evaluation related to this matter.

If the psychiatric evaluation is confirmed, Kimura will be examined by experts at a medical facility regarding his mental state and living conditions.

Kimura, who was arrested after the incident on the 15th, stated, "I will talk to my lawyer." However, even after a public defender was appointed, he exercised his right to remain silent for a week, making it difficult for investigators to determine his motive.

On the 15th, Kimura Ryuji (center), who threw an explosive device ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's election support rally at Saikazaki Fishing Port in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is being arrested by the police.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, the police are focusing on the fact that Kimura had a strong interest in politics, including filing lawsuits against the state over the age restriction for candidacy and the deposit system. They are conducting investigations accordingly. Additionally, analysis of a computer seized from his home revealed that he had accessed the Liberal Democratic Party's website before the incident.

The police believe that on the 14th, Kimura checked Prime Minister Kishida's campaign schedule at the Saikazaki Fish Market in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, on the LDP website, and committed the act the following day.

However, some point out that it is difficult to definitively conclude political dissatisfaction as the motive while Kimura is exercising his right to remain silent. Mainichi stated, "There is a logical leap in connecting the candidacy lawsuit and the incident."

Meanwhile, investigators are reportedly also replicating the explosive device and analyzing its power to apply additional charges such as attempted murder.

In this regard, Yomiuri Shimbun introduced the opinion of Professor Hata Hidehiro of Kumamoto University, stating, "Fragments of the explosive may have flown over the audience at speeds exceeding 140 km/h and at a height of 1.8 meters," adding, "If a person had been hit directly, serious damage could have occurred."