Man arrested after blast heard at site of Japanese premier's speech

NEW YORK/ ANKARA

Japanese authorities arrested a suspect at the site where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated following a loud explosion was heard.

The 24-year-old man was "arrested over explosion at prime minister Kishida speech site | NHK-PM Kishida was uninjured after a man threw what appears to have been a bomb at the site of a campaign speech in western Japan on Saturday," tweeted Noriyuki Shikata, cabinet secretary for public affairs at the prime minister's office.

Kishida has since left the venue and has been "confirmed safe," Shikata added. "Authorities say one police officer suffered minor injuries."

Shikata shared no further details on the suspect. According to local news agency Kyodo, the man threw a cylindrical object that loudly exploded ahead of Kishida's speech, sending people fleeing in panic.

Kishida was evacuated earlier after the explosion was heard at the venue where he was scheduled to speak in the western city of Wakayama.

Fumio was uninjured and left the city, said NHK, citing sources.

Police said a suspect has been arrested who appears to have thrown a bomb at the port where the prime minister was set to give his speech.

The incident comes nine months after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid