Former PM Kishida Attack: Defendant Denies Intent to Kill in Trial Opening
Wakayama, Japan - The trial of the man accused of throwing an explosive device at former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began on February 4th at the Wakayama District Court. The 25-year-old defendant, Ryuji Kimura, partially denied the charges, admitting to manufacturing the explosives but claiming he “had no intention to kill.”
Flashback to the Incident: An Explosion Rocks Kishida's Campaign Event
In April 2023, Kishida was campaigning in support of a Liberal Democratic Party candidate in Wakayama City for a House of Representatives by-election. As he was about to address the crowd at the Saikazaki fishing port after sampling local shrimp, an explosive device was thrown in his direction. While Kishida escaped unharmed, a police officer and a bystander sustained minor injuries. Kimura, an unemployed resident of Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, was arrested and subsequently indicted for the attack.
Trial Focuses on Intent as Defendant Breaks Silence
Kimura faces five charges, including attempted murder, for allegedly targeting Kishida and others with the intent to kill. Having remained silent throughout the investigation, his testimony was highly anticipated.
In court, Kimura admitted to “manufacturing black powder," "possessing explosives," and "carrying a knife," but denied any intention to kill. He stated, "I had no intention to kill. My purpose was not to injure anyone." He also claimed to have been unaware that an election campaign speech was taking place.
Prosecution Condemns "Act of Terror," Defense Argues for Reduced Charges
Prosecutors argued that Kimura's actions constituted “an act of terror targeting the sitting prime minister and indiscriminately harming people," posing a grave threat to the foundations of democracy.
The defense, however, countered that Kimura's prior experiments with explosives yielded no shrapnel and that he believed the device posed no lethal threat. They are pushing for a lesser charge of causing bodily injury.
The trial is scheduled for five days, with a verdict expected on February 19th.
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