Suspect in Attack on Japan PM Had Sued Govt Over Election: Yomiuri Newspaper

24 year-old Ryuji Kimura, suspected of a smoke bomb attack on Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is seen inside a police van as he is taken to prosecutors,' at Wakayama-nishi police station in Wakayama, Japan, on April 17, 2023. Kyodo via Reuters

The suspect who threw a smoke bomb toward Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had a record of seeking damages from the government, claiming he was unfairly barred from running for the Upper House election, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Ryuji Kimura filed the lawsuit in the Kobe district court last June, claiming he could not run for election held on July 10 due to his age and inability to prepare a 3 million yen ($22,339) deposit, the report said, citing the case record.