Small Explosions in Tokyo Subway Briefly Disrupt Morning Rush Hour
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TOKYO — Suspected leftist radicals set off 17 small bombs in downtown Tokyo subway stations today, the final day of the economic summit meeting here, briefly disrupting the morning rush hour, police said.
No injuries were reported when the explosive and incendiary bombs went off in subway restrooms and trash cans. Police also found six unexploded bombs in paper bags and discarded lunch boxes.
Police said the 17 devices, believed placed by the Chukakuha or Middle Core Faction, Japan’s largest leftist radical group, were set off simultaneously in the Tokyo subway system at about 8:20 a.m. by timing devices. The blasts stalled the extensive system for up to 15 minutes, authorities reported.
Two of the stations, Akasaka-Mitsuka and Yotsuya, were within two minutes walking distance of Tokyo’s official Guest House, where the seven-nation economic summit is being held.
On Sunday, the Middle Core Faction fired five homemade rockets over the Guest House. No injuries or damage was reported, but the attack embarrassed Japanese authorities, who had mounted an unprecedented security effort to protect the world leaders.
The group had vowed to disrupt the summit.
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