New Delhi: Tokyo Police on Saturday arrested a man for crashing a van into Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s office and hurling Molotov-like bombs at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) headquarters.
Significantly, the incident happened just over a fortnight after Ishiba was confirmed as PM on October 1.
The accused, identified as Atsunobu Usuda from Kawaguchi (near Tokyo), rammed a vehicle into the fence outside the PM’s office at around 5.50 am (local time).
Several containers were found inside the vehicle, reported Kyodo News.
Tokyo Police said there were no reports of any injury, but a police vehicle was partially burned after the man threw around five Molotov-like bombs near the LDP headquarters.
Police personnel and firefighters were seen inspecting the area in front of LDP’s headquarters, while an entrance to the premises of the PM’s office was cordoned off with tape.
Molotov cocktails, also known as petrol bombs, are used to hurl fire and are used by rioters.
The incident sent shockwaves through the islands, reminding people of the July 8, 2022, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also from LDP, was assassinated during a campaign rally.
LDP, one of Japan’s oldest political parties, is also the largest one.
LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama said he was “enraged” by Saturday’s acts of violence.
Police officers and firefighters were seen inspecting the area in front of the LDP’s headquarters, while an entrance to the premises of the prime minister’s office was cordoned off with tape.