Japan PM Kishida unhurt in 'smoke bomb' scare, resumes campaigning

FILE PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the news media at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, April 6, 2023. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday.

Kishida took cover after a loud explosion was heard while police subdued a man at the scene, Japanese media footage showed. A police officer suffered minor injuries in the incident, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing Wakayama prefectural police.