Man Arrested After Molotov Cocktails Thrown at LDP HQ

On October 19, a man threw what appeared to be multiple Molotov cocktails at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district. 

He then crashed his car into a protective barrier in front of the Prime Minister's Office. After exiting the vehicle, he threw what seemed to be a smoke bomb at police officers. The man was immediately arrested for obstructing official duties.

Investigators discovered burn marks inside the car, indicating that something had been set on fire. Around 20 plastic containers, most of which contained gasoline, were also found, suggesting the situation could have been far more disastrous. 

Before throwing the Molotov cocktails, the man had sprayed liquid of some sort in front of the LDP headquarters, using what appeared to be a high-pressure washer.

Attack on Democracy

The attack, which took place during the general election campaign, represents a serious act of violence against democracy. 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba condemned the assault during a campaign speech, stating, "Democracy must never succumb to violence. We will do everything possible to protect the safety and security of the public."

In response, the National Police Agency instructed prefectural police to tighten security at critical facilities and ensure the safety of key individuals.

Suspect's Background

The suspect, Atsunobu Usuda, is reportedly a left-wing activist who protested the reactivation of Kansai Electric Power Company's Oi Nuclear Power Plant No 3 and No 4 reactors. He had also set up a protest camp near the plant. 

On social media, Usuda had called for the abolition of election deposits, posting comments such as "Do something about the restrictive election [system]." He reportedly wanted to run in a general election in the past but couldn't pay the deposit.

Potential Catastrophe

The LDP headquarters has been targeted before. In 1984, an arson attack was carried out by the extreme-leftist Revolutionary Communist League, National Committee using a flamethrower mounted on an unmanned truck. During the Showa era (1926–1989), Molotov cocktail attacks by radical protesters were frequent, sometimes resulting in police fatalities.

In this latest incident, several vehicles from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's riot squad were partially burned. Three officers reported throat irritation. 

Fortunately, since the attack occurred early in the morning, no civilians were injured. However, had the Molotov cocktails been thrown during a stump speech, the consequences could have been fatal.

This general election is the first large-scale national election since the assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, which led to a renewed focus on security for high-profile figures. 

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(Read the related editorial in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun