Steph Deschamps / April 16, 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was unharmed after being evacuated following an explosion while preparing to deliver a speech at a fishing port in the west of the country, Japanese media reported Saturday.
Several media outlets, including the Kyodo news agency, reported that an object resembling a "smoke bomb" was thrown, but that there appeared to be no injuries or visible damage at the scene.
One person was arrested at the fishing port of Saikazaki in Wakayama Prefecture, where Mr. Kishida was due to give a speech, according to the public television channel NHK.
There was no immediate official confirmation from authorities, and police declined to comment.
NHK broadcast images showing a man being arrested by police as the crowd dispersed.
Japan stepped up security after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed while speaking at an election campaign event in July.
This new incident comes as Japan hosts this weekend ministerial meetings of the G7 in the north and center of the country, and the summit of the leaders of this group is to be held in May in Hiroshima.