A man (L), whom local media have named as 24-year-old Ryuji Kimura, who is believed to have thrown an explosive toward Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, leaves Wakayama Nishi Police Station in Wakayama on April 17, 2023. Photo by JIJI Press / AFP
Tokyo: 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 Wednesday.
Ryuji Kimura, 24, is suspected of tossing the explosive device towards Kishida during a campaign event in western Japan.
Kishida was unharmed after the attack, while Kimura was arrested at the scene.
The incident came less than a year after former leader Shinzo Abe was assassinated on the campaign trail.
A Wakayama district court spokeswoman told AFP Kimura "was indicted" on Wednesday.
Suspected gunpowder, as well as pipe-like objects and tools were found at Kimura's home during a police search after the attack.
Kimura has remained silent since his arrest, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Kimura reportedly underwent psychiatric evaluation for about three months before being charged.
Kimura had previously filed a lawsuit against the government, complaining about the country's minimum age for running in elections.
