Bomb Blast at Japanese Port During Prime Minister's Visit, No Injuries Reported

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was at the port campaigning on behalf of his party's candidate

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An explosion has been reported from the Saikazaki port in Japan's Wakayama on Saturday, 15 April.

Driving the news: The blast took place amid Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the port, according to the Associated Press.

• No one was injured in the incident, as per local media.

• The explosion reportedly occurred just as the prime minister was set to deliver his speech.

Status report: Kishida was evacuated from the scene unharmed, AP reported. He was at the port campaigning on behalf of his party's candidate, with just days to go for local elections, including a parliamentary bypoll, to be held across the country.

Why it matters: The incident comes just nine months after Shinzo Abe, Kishida's predecessor, was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech.

On the scene: Police apprehended the suspect who has been identified as a young male, as per local media reports.

• He was allegedly seen hurling the explosive before being caught by the authorities.

Déjà vu: The incident calls to mind the assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in July 2022.

• For one, Abe was also out campaigning when he was shot by an attacker in the city of Nara.

• The suspect allegedly shot Abe over the latter's ties to a religious group.

• Several world leaders, including PM Modi, had expressed their sympathies over the death of Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

(With inputs from Associated Press and NHK TV.)