TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unhurt Saturday after somebody threw an explosive gadget at a marketing campaign occasion in a western port metropolis, officers mentioned. Police wrestled a suspect to the bottom as screaming bystanders scrambled to get away and smoke crammed the air.

Though nobody was damage, and Kishida deliberate to proceed campaigning Saturday, the chaotic scene was paying homage to the assassination 9 months in the past of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which additionally got here on a marketing campaign tour and continues to reverberate in Japanese politics. Kishida was visiting the Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture to assist his ruling get together’s candidate in a neighborhood election, and the explosion occurred simply earlier than he was to start his speech.

A younger man believed to be a suspect was arrested Saturday on the scene after he allegedly threw the explosive, NHK mentioned. TV footage confirmed a number of uniformed and plainclothes cops gathered across the man, piling onto him and roughly dragging him over the bottom. It wasn’t instantly clear what triggered the explosion, however some stories mentioned it was a smoke or pipe bomb.

No accidents have been reported within the incident, which got here on the eve of a significant worldwide discussion board in Japan. Kishida was not damage and deliberate to proceed giving marketing campaign speeches later Saturday, in line with a authorities official who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he is not approved to publicly converse to the press.

Abe’s assassination, which shocked a nation that prides itself on public security and intensely tight gun controls, got here as he delivered a marketing campaign speech within the western metropolis of Nara. Amid a nationwide outcry, police have tightened their protecting measures following a subsequent investigation that discovered holes in Abe’s safety.

Safety has been additionally ramped up in Japan as senior diplomats from a number of the world’s strongest democracies arrive for Sunday’s Group of Seven international minister conferences. Kishida will host a Might 19-21 G-7 leaders’ summit in his hometown of Hiroshima.

One witness Saturday informed NHK tv that she was standing within the crowd when she noticed one thing come flying from behind. After a sudden loud noise, she fled together with her kids. One other witness mentioned folks have been screaming and that he noticed somebody being apprehended proper earlier than the explosion occurred.

Saturday’s assault comes forward of nationwide native elections, together with a number of by-elections for vacated parliamentary seats, with voting scheduled for April 23.

In Abe’s assassination, the previous prime minister was shot with a home made gun throughout a marketing campaign speech. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, has been charged with homicide and a number of other different crimes, together with violating the gun management legislation.

Abe’s alleged murderer informed investigators that he killed Abe, considered one of Japan’s most influential and divisive politicians, due to the previous prime minister’s obvious hyperlinks to a non secular group that he hated. In statements and in social media postings attributed to him, Yamagami mentioned he developed a grudge as a result of his mom had made huge donations to the Unification Church that bankrupted his household and ruined his life.

Abe’s assassination led to the resignation of high native and nationwide police chiefs and a tightening of safety tips for political leaders and different distinguished folks.

Kishida’s authorities hoped to focus world consideration this weekend on the recent spring resort city of Karuizawa, the place senior diplomats will collect Sunday for the so-called Group of Seven international ministers’ assembly.

The international ministers from Japan, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union are anticipated to give attention to worries over Russia’s battle in Ukraine, China’s more and more belligerent rise and North Korea’s provocative string of weapons’ checks.