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Woman attempts suicide in front of Japan PM office
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-30 14:26

A woman who tried to drive through barriers in front of the Japanese prime minister's office on Tuesday attempted suicide by slitting her throat after she was stopped by police.

Japanese police guard the official residence of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo after a suicide attempt by a woman August 30, 2005.
Japanese police guard the official residence of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo after a suicide attempt by a woman August 30, 2005. [Reuters]
The incident came amid heightened security around Japan in the wake of warnings that al-Qaeda might be preparing to attack an Asian city and the start of a general election campaign.

The woman, who also stabbed herself in the wrist and stomach with what appeared to be a fruit knife, was taken to hospital by ambulance and was in serious condition, a police spokesman said.

A policeman yells at people to stay back outside Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koziumi's official residence in Tokyo after a woman attempted suicide outside its gate August 30, 2005.
A policeman yells at people to stay back outside Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koziumi's official residence in Tokyo after a woman attempted suicide outside its gate August 30, 2005. [Reuters]
Her car was stopped just in front of a metal gate blocking entrance to the compound where the prime minister's office and residence are located.

The woman, who was in her fifties, appeared to be from Nagano prefecture, about 179 km (111 miles) northwest of Tokyo, the police spokesman added. Flyers found in her car opposed the coalition government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Koizumi was out campaigning for a general election to be held September 11 and was not in his office at the time of the incident, which police said was being treated as an attempted suicide.

Up to 13,600 police will be deployed throughout the nation as part of tighter security measures during the campaign period, with special emphasis on major cities such as Tokyo and the western city of Osaka.



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