Kishida attacker charged with attempted murder
Tokyo, Sep 6 (EFE).- The Prosecutor’s Office presented charges Wednesday against the attacker of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for attempted murder and possession of explosives, after the detainee underwent a psychiatric evaluation.
The Wakayama Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted the detainee, identified as Ryuji Kimura, 24, for the attack with explosives against Kishida during an electoral event in western Japan in April, after concluding that the suspect is mentally fit to be held criminally responsible.
The indictment came after a three-month psychiatric evaluation by prosecutors that ended Friday and after investigators determined that the homemade bomb used in the attack could have been lethal.
The detainee has remained silent since he was arrested at the scene following the incident, which occurred when Kishida was about to give a speech at a port in the city of Wakayama, in the west of the country, on the occasion of a local election.
As recorded in various recordings of those present, Kimura threw a cylindrical metal object to the ground behind Kishida’s back, which he detonated shortly after. Kimura was arrested on the spot.
The Japanese leader was quickly evacuated from the place and was unharmed, but there were two minor injuries among police officers.
The attack on Kishida brought to mind the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after being attacked from behind with a homemade firearm during a rally of the same type on the streets of the city of Nara. EFE
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