Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Following the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, the National Police Agency has instructed police forces across the country to step up protection of VIPs, the online news service of Fuji Television has reported.

Japanese police were heavily criticized two years ago after the assassination of former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo at an open-air campaign event, when a man walked up to where Abe was speaking on the street and shot him with a home-made weapon.

Following an attempt on Trump’s life at an outdoor campaign rally, the National Police Agency on Sunday instructed police forces across the country to further strengthen the protection of VIPs, paying particular attention to security at street venues for campaign rallies.

The agency is calling on organizers to select appropriate locations, conduct baggage inspections and ensure distance between VIPs and audiences.

Japanese politicians have a tradition of making speeches on the streets, sometimes from the roof of small trucks, and security is usually quite lax at such events, with crowds able to get close to candidates and even shake hands with them. It’s also common for election candidates to slowly patrol the streets from small trucks and wave at people on the streets.