Japan charges man accused of trying to murder the Prime Minister

A man accused of throwing a pipe bomb at Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April has been charged with attempted murder, a court spokeswoman said yesterday.

Ryuji Kimura, 24, is suspected of tossing the explosive device towards Kishida during a campaign event in western Japan.

The incident came less than a year after former leader Shinzo Abe was assassinated on the campaign trail.

Report said suspected gunpowder, as well as pipe-like objects and tools, were found at Kimura’s home during a police search after the attack.

Kimura had previously filed a lawsuit against the government, complaining about the country’s minimum age for running in elections. Kishida was unharmed after the attack, while Kimura was arrested at the scene.