Japanese prosecutors have formally indicted a man for attempted murder and other charges following an explosives attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last April, court officials announced on September 6.

Ryuji Kimura (24) allegedly attempted an assassination by throwing a pipe bomb at Mr Kishida while he was campaigning for elections in Wakayama, Western Japan. Although he wasn’t hurt in the incident, a police officer and a local resident suffered minor injuries. Kimura was arrested on the spot.

Kimura underwent a three-month psychiatric evaluation after his arrest to determine if he was mentally fit for trial. Prosecutors have since formally indicted him on an attempted murder charge and four other charges, including violating the gun and swords control and explosives control laws. The Wakayama District Court has accepted the indictment.

The attack came a year after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. As gun and bomb violence is rare in Japan, these two attacks shocked the country.

A clear reminder

The attack on Prime Minister Kishida is a reminder that even in a country with a low rate of gun and bomb violence, VIPs are still at risk. 

Just like Japan, the UK has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, resulting in relatively low levels of gun crime. Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed that in the year ending March 2023, there were 6,365 offences involving firearms in England and Wales, excluding Devon and Cornwall. 

This is a 13 percent increase from the previous year (5,639 offences) but a two percent decrease from the pre-pandemic year (6,511 violations).

Apart from gun crimes, the data recorded an overall decrease in crime by 15 percent. Theft decreased by 20 percent, with the largest drop being in theft from the person (33%). Other types of theft also saw declines, including “other theft of personal property” (31%), domestic burglary (30%) and vehicle-related theft (18%).

Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said about cybercrimes. AAG’s 2023 Cyber Crime Statistics found that 32% of UK businesses experienced a cyberattack or data breach in 2022-2023.

Enhancing VIP security

Politicians, celebrities, business executives, and other high-profile individuals often become targets of the threats above. They are also vulnerable to becoming targets of kidnapping, extortion, and assault. Statista revealed that there were 7,420 kidnapping offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 2022-2023.

In some cases, the threat can even come from within their circle, such as from disgruntled employees or former associates. VIPs are also at risk of invasion of their privacy. This can be damaging, as sensitive information about their personal lives or business dealings could be leaked to the public. 

A security agency like Marengo can help enhance security for executives and VIPs, including providing close protection. Security agencies can also conduct regular security assessments, implement a layered security approach, and use tested technology to enhance security. 

At the end of the day, however, VIPs must always be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to avoid potential threats.