Japan’s PM promises utmost security during G7 summit a day after smoke-bomb scare

The G7 summit will be held from 19 May to 21 May in Hiroshima

File. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a joint news conference with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo 16 March 2023 (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP, File )

Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida, a day after the smoke-bomb scare, has promised utmost security to the visiting G7 dignitaries.

On Saturday, right before Mr Kishida was to give a speech, a loud explosion rang out at the venue in the city of Wakayama in western Japan. The prime minister, however, was evacuated to a safe place and was unharmed.

On Sunday, the local police also raided the home of the suspect – 24-year-old Ryuji Kimura — as authorities said they believe the object thrown prior to his speech in Wakayama may be a pipe bomb.