THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
April 23, 2023 at 14:43 JST
A metal canister discovered at Saikazaki fishing port in Wakayama on April 15 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
WAKAYAMA--A metal canister seized at the site where an explosion forced Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to cancel a campaign speech April 15 apparently contained gunpowder, according to sources close to the investigation.
Police confiscated two cylindrical devices at Saikazaki fishing port here, one of which was not detonated. The sources said what appears to be black powder was found in the unexploded device.
Ryuji Kimura, 24, was arrested on the spot on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business.
The other device exploded about 50 seconds after landing near Kishida, sending up white smoke and debris over a distance of 40 to 60 meters. Kishida was not injured.
Black powder, which is used for fireworks among other things, produces white smoke when it explodes.
Police seized powder that they presume was used to make the explosives when they searched Kimura’s home in Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture.
Investigators are examining the powder to determine how Kimura obtained the material and made explosive devices.
Police also confirmed that Kimura used his personal computer to check out Kishida’s campaign itinerary on the website of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the sources said. The PC was also confiscated during the search.
The website said Kishida was scheduled to visit Saikazaki fishing port at 11:40 a.m. on April 15 to campaign for a Lower House by-election. The information was posted around 5:10 p.m. on April 14, according to the LDP headquarters.
Police seize likely explosive powder from attack suspect’s home
April 17, 2023
Suspect’s home searched; bag seized at site of Kishida attack
April 16, 2023
2nd object seized at Kishida attack site had likely fuse, detonator
April 19, 2023
Likely pipe bomb parts found far from Kishida attack location
April 18, 2023
24-year-old man from Hyogo held in ‘bomb’ scare at Kishida venue
April 15, 2023
Buffer zone for Kishida speech failed to foil pipe bomb attack
April 20, 2023
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
