TOKYO: The 49-year-old man arrested after throwing apparent firebombs at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday was once actively involved in protests against nuclear power plants, sources said.
After the incident, Atsunobu Usuda, the suspect, rammed a vehicle into a barricade in front of the prime minister’s office nearby and then threw apparent smoke candles at police officers and others.
The Metropolitan Police Department suspects that Usuda may have been unhappy with the LDP’s policies.
According to people who know him, including his 79-year-old father, Usuda became involved in protests against nuclear power plants following the March 2011 triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
His activities included protests held in front of Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi plant to oppose the restart of the nuclear plant in the central Japan prefecture of Fukui.
“He was the type of person who actually went to the scene if something happened,” an acquaintance said. “He was a man of action, attending protests and actually going to the Fukushima No. 1 plant as a plant worker.”
Over the past few years, Usuda had distanced himself from such activities, said those who know him.
Currently living with his father in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Usuda worked as a long-distance truck driver and a web designer. Interested in law, he obtained an administrative notary certification.
“I can understand his views (on protests), but he should have taken actions that are legal, such as demonstrations,” his father said.
Usuda has remained silent during police questioning, sources said.
JIJI Press