Japan Police Say Flaws in Basic Security Allowed Attacker to Throw Pipe Bomb at Prime Minister

A man (bottom) is detained after throwing an apparent "smoke bomb" in Wakayama, Japan, on April 15, 2023, where Japan's Prime Minister was due to give a speech. STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images

TOKYO—Japan’s National Police Agency said in a report Thursday that flaws in basic security such as an absence of metal detectors and bag checks allowed an attacker to enter a campaign crowd unnoticed and throw a pipe bomb at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April.

The bomb fell near Kishida and he was pushed away by special police before it exploded and he was unhurt.