A person threw several firebombs yesterday at the headquarters of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo, Japanese media reported.
It has not been reported whether there were any injuries. The suspect has been detained, but the motive for the attack is still unknown. Tokyo police have not commented on the reports, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
The ruling LDP has been increasingly unpopular with the public due to several scandals, including tax evasion and the embezzlement of a significant amount of money. The party declined to comment on the attack, referring inquiries to the police.
Elections for the lower house of Japan’s parliament are scheduled for October 27th. Some politicians involved in the scandals have lost the official backing of the ruling party but are running as independents.
The party recently elected a new leader, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, hoping to rebrand its image. However, polls show that his popularity is declining, though it is unclear whether the party is on track to lose the elections, given the fragmented opposition.
The LDP has governed Japan without interruption for several decades.
Photo: webaagah
