TOKYO (AP) — A man threw several firebombs into the headquarters of Japan’s ruling party in Tokyo Saturday, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported. There were no reports of injuries.
The man, who was arrested on the spot, had driven his car into nearby fencing, the news reports said. His motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
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Police officers gather near the headquarters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party with a poster of Japan's Prime Minister and the party's head Shigeru Ishiba on display after a man threw firebombs into the headquarters in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a white vehicle, right above, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a vehicle which was stuck against a security fence near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
A vehicle is stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Police vehicles park near the headquarters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo after a man threw firebombs into the headquarters Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a vehicle, center, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Police officers work near a vehicle, center, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office, background, in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo police declined to comment, noting the matter was still under investigation.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is increasingly unpopular with the public due to a ballooning money scandal involving dubious funding and suspected tax evasion. The party declined to comment on Saturday’s attack, referring all queries to the police.
Voting for the lower house of Parliament is set for Oct. 27. Some tarnished politicians lost the official backing of the ruling party but are running as independents.
The party recently chose a new leader, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, hoping to present a new image. But polls show its popularity plummeting, although it’s still unclear whether they will lose their majority grip on the lower house in the upcoming election given the splintered opposition.
Some candidates have been heckled, which is relatively rare in Japanese culture.
The Liberal Democrats have ruled Japan almost incessantly over recent decades. They are credited with leading Japan as it became an economic powerhouse from the devastation of World War II.
Then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in 2022, while making a speech for a ruling party candidate during a parliamentary election. The killer used a handmade firearm, saying he resented Abe because his mother gave all the family money to the Unification Church, and he saw Abe as affiliated with that church. Such ties are still ongoing with some ruling party politicians.
Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://x.com/yurikageyama
Police officers gather near the headquarters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party with a poster of Japan's Prime Minister and the party's head Shigeru Ishiba on display after a man threw firebombs into the headquarters in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a white vehicle, right above, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a vehicle which was stuck against a security fence near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
A vehicle is stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Police vehicles park near the headquarters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo after a man threw firebombs into the headquarters Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Officials work near a vehicle, center, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Police officers work near a vehicle, center, which was stuck against a barricade near the prime minister's office, background, in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase gave up two runs in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees moved closer to another World Series, beating the Guardians 8-6 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Gleyber Torres hit an RBI single and New York scored its go-ahead run on an error by shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who booted Alex Verdugo's grounder.
It was a messy ninth for Clase (0-2) as baseball's best reliever all season faltered for the second night in a row.
New York got three singles in the ninth off the right-hander, who gave up back-to-back homers in the eighth inning of Game 3 but got bailed out when the Guardians got a pair of two-run homers in their final two at-bats.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer and Juan Soto hit a two-run shot for the Yankees, who can advance to their 41st World Series with a win in Game 5 on Saturday.
The Guardians are facing elimination in the postseason for the second time. They rallied in the ALDS to get past Detroit and now will have to win three straight — two at Yankee Stadium — to have any chance of ending their 76-year World Series drought.
For the second straight night, New York's bullpen nearly blew a late lead. The Guardians scored three runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and threatened in the ninth, putting two runners on base.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to Tommy Kahnle for the last three outs and the right-hander was able to put away Cleveland, something New York's relievers couldn't do Thursday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Ian Hamilton's calf injury was severe enough that he was dropped from the ALCS roster and replaced by Mark Leiter Jr. Hamilton got hurt while covering first base in the sixth inning of Game 3. He won't be eligible for the World Series if New York advances. Boone said he considered adding lefty Nestor Torres, but wants to give the lefty as much time as possible to recover from an elbow strain.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón makes his second start of the series after a strong Game 1 outing — one run and three hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. He'll face Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee, who was pulled after just 39 pitches in Game 2 and will pitch on three days' rest.
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New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Austin Wells watches his home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams throws against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22) celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas (67) after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Austin Wells (28) celebrates with Alex Verdugo after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the baseball AL Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase throws against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton celebrates after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the baseball AL Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle celebrates after Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. The Yankees won 8-6 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
