Japan PM Kishida evacuated after blast at outdoor speech

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated today, Saturday after an apparent smoke or pipe bomb was thrown at the venue where he was just about to begin a stump speech in the city of Wakayama, followed by a loud explosion. He was later confirmed to be safe, NHK reported.

Video footage showed people who had gathered at the scene running for shelter, while a man was subdued by several others who appeared to be police officers at the scene. A Twitter post also showed that people were escaping from the scene.

Kishida, who was in the city for a speech to support a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for a by-election planned for later this month, left the scene unhurt after the incident, which took place as he was speaking with a candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The incident comes nine months after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot with a homemade weapon while campaigning for the LDP in July in Nara Prefecture.

Japan PM Fumio Kishida Attacked: Residents try to flee after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was thrown at a port in Wakayama, western Japan. (AP)
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Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.