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Explosion hits controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, no injuries

A suspected explosive device damaged a bathroom at Japan's controversial war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in downtown Tokyo on Monday, but no one was hurt, officials and news reports said.

Police received reports of a loud bang and smoke rising near the public bathroom inside the shrine on Monday morning, a spokesman said.

Public broadcaster NHK said the small blast occurred as a larger-than-usual number of people were visiting the shrine for an annual harvest festival.

Police found the ceiling and wall of the bathroom damaged and burned, NHK said, adding that they also found a battery and wire there.

A bomb unit attended the scene and police have now launched an investigation into whether the incident was a targeted attack.

"Fortunately, no one was injured," a shrine official said, adding that it had not received any threat in connection with the explosion.

Yasukuni enshrines 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals during the World War Two and is considered as the symbol of the country's past militarism.

Continuous visits to the shrine by Japanese ministers and lawmakers have become a major obstacle for Japan to mend its ties with its two closest neighbors of China and South Korea, both of whom were suffered from Japan's wartime aggression.




 

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