New developments in the attack on Japanese Prime Minister

Wakayama Prefectural Court said on May 22 that prosecutors were allowed to detain suspect Kimura (24 years old) until September 1 to assess his mental state at the time of the attack.

Prosecutors will then decide whether to prosecute Kimura based on the results of a psychiatric evaluation conducted within three months.

The suspect, Kimura, who lives in Kawanishi City (Hyogo Prefecture), was arrested on April 15 after throwing an explosive device at the podium where Prime Minister Kishida was about to deliver a campaign speech at the fishing port of Saikazaki (in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture). Mr. Kishida Fumio was not injured in the attack.

Ryuji Kimura was arrested by police at the scene of the attack on Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in April. Photo: Asahi

Investigators said they seized the suspect's backpack, which contained a water bottle containing an unknown solution and a bottle containing powder, a metal plate, a spoon and a lighter.

Police also found fragments of the explosive device used in the attack, embedded in a 2-meter-high container, about 60 meters from the scene.

The debris is believed to be the cap of a cylindrical object that the suspect threw at Prime Minister Kishida. Police found the main part of the explosive device 40 meters away from the scene.

Ryuji Kimura at a police station in Wakayama City on April 17. Photo: Reuters

Investigative sources said Kimura has remained silent since his arrest. Court records indicate the incident may be related to his right to run for office.

According to Kyodo news agency, Kimura filed a lawsuit against the requirement that political candidates in Japan must be at least 30 years old and have a campaign budget of at least 3 million yen ($21,600) to run for government positions. Kimura is ineligible to run in the July 2022 election and is suing the government for 100,000 yen in compensation for psychological trauma caused by it.

However, the Kobe City Court dismissed the case on the grounds that the age limit and deposit were reasonable regulations. Kimura appealed in December 2022 and the Osaka Court of Appeals is expected to issue a ruling in May.

According to NHK , the suspect has repeatedly criticized Japan's electoral system on social media. In his most recent post, four days after the attack, Kimura continued to attack the aforementioned election regulations.

In addition, court documents show that Kimura also submitted a document criticizing Prime Minister Kishida's Cabinet for holding a state funeral for the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, saying the event was "forced through with only the Cabinet's approval" and without parliamentary deliberation.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/dien-bien-moi-vu-thu-tuong-nhat-ban-bi-tan-cong-20230523160014096.htm