Wed Feb 19 04:29:15 UTC 2025: ## Japanese Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attack on Former Prime Minister Kishida
**Wakayama, Japan** – A Japanese court sentenced Ryuji Kimura, 25, to 10 years in prison on Wednesday for the attempted murder of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Kimura threw a homemade pipe bomb at Kishida during a campaign event in Wakayama on April 15, 2023.
While Kimura pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, claiming he did not intend to kill Kishida, the Wakayama District Court found him guilty on at least one of the five charges against him, which included violations of explosives and weapons laws. The court did not immediately release details on the specific charge(s) resulting in the conviction.
Although Kishida escaped unharmed, two individuals sustained minor injuries in the attack. Kimura was apprehended at the scene. The incident occurred approximately one year after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also during a campaign event. The sentencing comes as a significant development following the highly publicized trial.
First Piper 