During a visit to the port city of Wakayama, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, was abruptly interrupted when a sudden explosion occurred during his speech. A suspect from the crowd was believed to have hurled a “smoke bomb” that caused chaos as the crowd scattered. Despite the panic, Kishida was unharmed and swiftly evacuated from the scene. Authorities arrested one suspect who was taken into custody.

ALSO READ: Three companies and two individuals have been sanctioned by the US for allegedly generating income for North Korea in an illicit manner

The incident revived memories of the assassination of Kishida’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe, who was fatally shot during a public campaign event last year. The assailant, a 41-year-old veteran of the Japanese military, was arrested and confessed to the murder. Kishida had traveled to Wakayama to lend support to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in an upcoming by-election set for later this month. The incident highlights the security challenges faced by political leaders during public events in Japan.