Police Suspect Use Of ‘Homemade Pipe Bombs’ To Attack Japanese PM Kishida: Reports

Amid the ongoing investigation after a smoke bomb attack on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the investigators could be homemade pipe bombs, according to media reports.

Raid at suspect’s house

This disclosure has come as the Japanese police, in the early hours of Sunday, raided the home of Ryuji Kimura, the 24-year-old suspect, in Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture.

As per the media reports, several conducting wires were found on both ends of the cylinders, which resembled a steel pipe, which led investigators to believe that the objects may be pipe bombs, as such devices have gunpowder sealed inside a cylinder which is detonated by igniting a fuse.

However, the police are still investigating whether the devices were designed to be lethal.

Moreover, an investigation source said the suspect; Kimura was also carrying a knife in his backpack at the scene.

On Saturday evening, police reportedly urged residents near Kimura’s home to evacuate to a nearby community centre as they feared explosives could be found. The neighbours were allowed to return home before dawn on Sunday after authorities confirmed it was safe, the media report said.

The search operation began at 1 am on Sunday and it lasted eight hours. Police removed more than a dozen cardboard boxes believed to contain confiscated items in connection with the incident, seizing what appeared to be gunpowder and a computer among other items.

Japanese PM calls it unforgivable

Speaking to the media, Kishida said that commenting on the incident, calling violent attacks during elections “unforgivable.”

Further, he said that details on security will be verified as the investigation moves forward and that the nation must ensure safety during the upcoming Group of Seven summit and other events that bring together dignitaries from around the world.

The suspect said, “Together with the people of Japan, we will do our utmost to ensure safety during the diplomatic schedule.”

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‘Smoke bomb attack’

During the attack on Saturday, Kimura reportedly had two cylindrical objects, believed to be pipe bombs about 20 to 30 centimetres long. One object thrown by Kimura landed around a meter from the prime minister as he was about to begin a stump speech for a candidate in a Lower House by-election at Saikazaki fishing port in the city of Wakayama.

It exploded a few seconds later, shattering the cylinder. The other was seized by police as Kimura was held down, the media reports added.

Moreover, the sources said that the prime suspect, Kimura was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of business and has so far not responded to police questioning, but he has said he will talk once his lawyer arrives.