Man firebombs Japan ruling party’s Tokyo headquarters

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is increasingly unpopular with the Japanese public due to a ballooning money scandal

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Police officers investigate the scene outside the ruling Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in central Tokyo on Saturday after a man threw Molotov cocktail-like objects outside the building. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:24am, 19 Oct 2024Updated: 12:10pm, 19 Oct 2024

A man threw several firebombs into the headquarters of Japan’s ruling party in Tokyo on Saturday, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported. There were no reports of injuries.

The man, who was arrested on the spot, had driven his car into nearby fencing, the news reports said. His motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

Tokyo police declined to comment, noting the matter was still under investigation.

Officials work near the vehicle which was driven into a security fence near the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is increasingly unpopular with the public due to a ballooning money scandal involving dubious funding and suspected tax evasion.

The party declined to comment on Saturday’s attack, referring all queries to the police.

Voting for the lower house of parliament is set for October 27. Some tarnished politicians lost the official backing of the ruling party but are running as independents.

Officials work near a white vehicle (right) that was driven into a barricade near the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

The party recently chose a new leader, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, hoping to present a new image. But polls show its popularity plummeting, although it’s still unclear whether they will lose their majority grip on the lower house in the coming election given the splintered opposition.