Japan PM Kishida’s suspected attacker to undergo psychiatric examination

TOKYO - A man accused of throwing an explosive at Japan’s prime minister in April will undergo a three-month psychiatric examination, a regional court said on Tuesday.

Ryuji Kimura, 24, was arrested in April for allegedly

hurling a pipe bomb-like explosive towards Mr Fumio Kishida

as the premier campaigned in the western city of Wakayama.

Mr Kishida escaped unscathed, but the incident horrified a nation still haunted by the

assassination of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe,

who was gunned down in 2022 while giving a speech.

Prosecutors are authorised to detain Kimura until early September for an assessment of his mental state at the time of the attack, a court official, who did not give her name, told AFP.

They are expected to decide whether to indict Kimura based on the evaluation.

The suspect has reportedly remained tight-lipped about his motive for the failed attack on Mr Kishida.

Local media reported that

Kimura previously filed a lawsuit

challenging requirements that political candidates be at least 30 years of age and have a war chest of at least three million yen (S$29,120) to run for national office.

An Osaka High Court spokesman told AFP last month that Kimura had sued the government and his claim was rejected by a lower court.

A ruling on his appeal is expected in May.

The attack put Japan on high alert ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, which wrapped up on Sunday, and reignited a debate over police security for politicians.

In an interview with foreign media including AFP in April, Mr Kishida said the attack served as a sobering reminder of the difficulties in balancing interactions with voters against the safety of politicians. AFP