Small explosion occurs near U.S. Army base in Japan

Some people in Japan aren’t too happy with the United States lately. A small blast occurred in the vicinity of a U.S. Army base south of Tokyo around 11 p.m. Monday, but no one was injured and no damage was reported. In a nearby park, police found a metal tube believed to be a launcher ...

Some people in Japan aren't too happy with the United States lately. A small blast occurred in the vicinity of a U.S. Army base south of Tokyo around 11 p.m. Monday, but no one was injured and no damage was reported. In a nearby park, police found a metal tube believed to be a launcher of a rocket, and investigators said they suspected guerrillas in the attack.

Some people in Japan aren’t too happy with the United States lately. A small blast occurred in the vicinity of a U.S. Army base south of Tokyo around 11 p.m. Monday, but no one was injured and no damage was reported. In a nearby park, police found a metal tube believed to be a launcher of a rocket, and investigators said they suspected guerrillas in the attack.

In 2002, two blasts were reported outside the same army base, and investigators also blamed those incidents on guerrillas. Leftist extremists have used projectile launchers in the past against targets connected to the U.S. military and the Japanese royal family. The attacks are considered to be more symbolic than dangerous, and injuries are rare.

Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009 to 2016 and was an FP assistant editor from 2007 to 2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP

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