Japan man in his 70s sets himself on fire in apparent protest against Shinzo Abe’s planned state funeral
- The man in his 70s set himself alight near the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo early on Wednesday, local media said
- He reportedly told police that he was opposed to plans for a state funeral for former PM Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July
The man, believed to be in his 70s, was taken to hospital suffering burns to his entire body, while a police officer who tried to extinguish the flames was also injured.
He was unconscious when first found but later told police that he had deliberately doused himself in oil, media said. A letter about Abe’s state funeral and the words “I strongly oppose it,” was found nearby.
Police declined to confirm the incident, which took place on what would have been Abe’s 68th birthday.
Kyodo news agency and other outlets said police were called to the scene around 7am local time after reports a man was “engulfed in flames”.
“I have heard that police found a man who had suffered burns near government offices, and I’m aware that police are investigating,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference.
By midmorning, the only sign of the incident was a scorched patch of grass and bush, with police and media nearby.