Japanese prime minister evacuated after blast at port he was visiting

Tokyo — Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida Public broadcaster NHK reported that he was unharmed after an explosion was heard at the port where he was scheduled to give a speech on the country’s west coast on Saturday.

Kishida was about to speak at Saikazaki Port in western Wakayama Prefecture when someone screamed, officials flocked to the man, and an explosion was heard, according to Japanese broadcasters.

The sound was accompanied by smoke, but no injuries were reported and there were no signs of burning, NHK reported, adding that Kishida was escorted to a car by security.

The prime minister had just finished tasting food at the port and was about 65 feet away from where the incident occurred, the station said.

Kishida later apologized for the incident.

In an NHK video broadcast, he said as he resumed his campaign speech, “Police are looking into the details of a loud explosion at a previous speech venue. We apologize for causing concern to many people. is in the midst of an important election for the country, and we must move this forward together.”

The incident came about nine months after Kishida’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe, was ousted. assassinated During a campaign event in Nara City near Kyoto.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told Reuters the police had been instructed to step up security and the government would do what was necessary to ensure security at the summit of seven major powers in Hiroshima. .

Matsuno said the government will wait for the results of the police investigation before commenting on the suspect’s potential motives.

Hosted by Kishida G7 summit I’m going to Hiroshima next month. Japan’s foreign ministry said after Saturday’s incident there would be no change to its security plans for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, which begins Sunday in the resort city of Karuizawa.

Arata Yamamoto from Tokyo and Dennis Romero from Los Angeles reported.