Text size
A man was arrested in Tokyo after throwing several Molotov cocktails at the ruling party headquarters on Saturday morning, Japanese media reported, just days before the general election.
Public broadcaster NHK said five or six objects resembling Molotov cocktails hit a riot police vehicle, but the fire was soon extinguished and no one was injured. Police could not immediately confirm the reports to AFP.
The man, in his 40s, also tried to drive his car towards the prime minister’s office area, but was blocked by a fence, NHK said.
He then attempted to throw what appeared to be a smoke bomb, but police officers at the scene stopped him.
The man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of disorderly conduct, police said.
“The perpetrator’s motives are unknown, but freedom of expression should not be silenced by violence, and I am outraged by this act as elections are being held that are the very foundation of democracy,” said Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama. of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), according to the media.
The incident occurred shortly before 6:00 a.m. local time (21:00 GMT on Friday), according to reports.
Japan will hold a general election on October 27 in a test for new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office after winning the ruling LDP’s leadership vote last month.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, which has strict gun control laws.
But the country was shaken in 2022 by the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot in broad daylight by a man with an improvised weapon during the election campaign.
nf-kaf/cool/db/val
