Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a campaign speech in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, on the evening of April 15, hours after an explosive device was thrown at him in Wakayama Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

For the second time in nine months, chaotic scenes unfolded as a prominent politician campaigned at election time. This time, it was a bomb scare directed at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The April 15 incident evoked memories of the fatal shooting in July last year of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while he gave a campaign speech on behalf of an Upper House candidate.   

The fact that elections, which are fundamental to democracy, were again threatened by violence has serious implications. It is crucial to uncover the background to the case to protect our free society.

The 24-year-old suspect, arrested at the scene on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business, lobbed a cylindrical explosive device in Kishida’s direction as he prepared to deliver a speech at a fishing port in Wakayama.

The prime minister was on a stumping tour for Upper and Lower House by-elections and was escorted by security police to safety. Nobody was injured in the incident, but had the circumstances been different, the outcome could have been very deadly.

Any attempt to achieve a purpose, whatever it may be, through violence is unacceptable. The attack was nothing but an outrageous assault on the very foundation of democracy.

Street speeches offer valuable opportunities for politicians to promote their policies through close contact with the public. Any attempt to attack politicians to take advantage of the process is nothing short of despicable and only threatens to widen the gap between politics and the public.

Kishida canceled his speech at the fishing port but went ahead with his itinerary in other locations in Wakayama and Chiba Prefecture. “We need to work together with the people to come through these important elections,” he said.

The leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties denounced the attack and vowed to continue their campaigns without flinching.

We hope they will continue their efforts to promote their policies while taking every possible step to secure their own safety. That will help protect key democratic values and principles, such as freedom of thought and belief, freedom of speech and expression and the freedom to vote.

The suspect’s aims have yet to be clarified. Law enforcement authorities must make an all-out effort to uncover the truth.

Even though the prime minister was not hurt, nor anyone in the audience, it is still vital to scrutinize the security operation at the site.

After Abe’s death, the National Police Agency overhauled its system for guarding and protecting important people. The agency now checks VIP protection plans beforehand and instructs prefectural police departments that drew them up to make whatever changes are deemed necessary. More staff have been assigned to VIP protection in tandem with enhanced training programs for security officers.

The series of unified local elections and by-elections for both chambers of the Diet are the first major polls since Abe was killed. These elections are an acid test for law enforcement authorities, which have been working to regain the lost trust of the public.

But the fact remains that the suspect was able to blend in with the crowd and hurl an explosive device at the prime minister from a short distance. This is an inescapable fact. The authorities need to quickly determine which part of the security operation was not up to par.

The Group of Seven summit to be held in Hiroshima next month will be attended by leaders and other VIPs from around the world.

There are important lessons to be drawn from this latest attack to ensure perfect security at the G-7 summit.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 16

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