Firecrackers explode at Ise shrines prior to PM’s visit

Firecrackers concealed in a bush went o at Ise Grand Shrines about 40 minutes before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the shrines in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Jan. 4.

An antenna and electric wires were found among debris from the exploded recrackers, leading the prefectural police to believe they had been planted there and were set o remotely.

e police are investigating the incident. According to investigative sources, the recrackers exploded around 11:40 a.m. in a bush near a driveway in the Geku section of the shrines.

ere were many visitors at the site at the time of the incident, but no one was hurt.

Police o cers found antenna-like parts and wires among the debris from the recrackers.

When police inspected the site early in the morning on Jan. 4, nothing suspicious was reported, so either the

recrackers were planted a er the initial search or the police overlooked them during the inspection.

Kishida arrived at around 12:20 p.m., about 40 minutes a er the recrackers went o . e prime minister worshipped at the shrines with other Cabinet members, as scheduled.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi and Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki also visited the shrines on Jan. 4.

Police have enhanced the security for dignitaries in the wake of the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July last year.

About 1,100 police o cers were positioned around Ise Grand Shrine on Jan. 4.

It is unclear why the recrackers were planted at this stage. e prefectural police are checking security cameras in the area and other possible leads in the ongoing investigation. (Jan. 8)