Japan PM evacuated unhurt after blast during campaign event

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed Saturday after someone threw an explosive device at a campaign event in a western port city, officials said. (AP)

Kishida was visiting the Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture to support his ruling party’s candidate in a local election, and the explosion occurred just before he was to begin his speech. (AP)

Police wrestled a suspect to the ground as screaming bystanders scrambled to get away and smoke filled the air. (AP)

A young man believed to be a suspect was arrested Saturday at the scene after he allegedly threw the explosive, NHK said. (AP)

TV footage showed several uniformed and plainclothes police officers gathered around the man, piling onto him and roughly dragging him over the ground. (AP)

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion, but some reports said it was a smoke or pipe bomb. (AP)

No injuries were reported in the incident, which came on the eve of a major international forum in Japan. (AP)