A man has been arrested after a loud explosion occurred at a western Japanese port during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit, local television has reported, but there were no injuries.
Video footage released by Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, showed members of the public fleeing and a man being arrested following the incident.
Kishida was evacuated from the venue in the city of Wakayama where he was expected to give an outdoor speech, NHK reported.
READ MORE: 'Reunited in heaven': Father of missing Beaumont children dies at 97
NHK said an "explosion-like sound was heard on the scene".
According to an NHK reporter on the scene, it was "believed that something was thrown in and exploded" just before Kishida was about to begin his speech.
Japanese officials say the prime minister is safe and unharmed, according to NHK.
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
A man believed to be a suspect was apprehended at the scene, and NHK footage showed several uniformed and plainclothes police officers gathered around the man and pressing him to the ground.
The video also shows members of the public running away in panic during the evacuation.
The incident comes nine months after Kishida's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech.
More to come.
