World Expo initiates partial evacuation after bomb threat on second day of running

A man has been arrested after making a bomb threat whilst passing through security at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Security has been high at the World Expo, as even before the opening day it was subject to a bomb threat aimed at the main station serving the event.

On the 14th of April at approximately 11:00am, an 80 year old man was taken into custody by the Konohana Police Station of the Osaka Prefectural Police.

According to police reports, the suspect is accused of stating, “I have a bomb in my backpack”, to a security guard conducting baggage checks at the west gate of the Expo site.

Fortunately, it was confirmed that the suspect was not actually carrying any explosives, however as a result of the alleged statement, some security lanes were temporarily closed for approximately 30 minutes while safety checks were conducted.

During this time, about 200 visitors and Expo personnel in the vicinity were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

As no explosive device was found, the arrest was formally made under the charges of suspicion of intimidation and obstruction of business.

These charges specifically relate to the fact that by making the statement, the man had disrupted the guard’s duties as he had to react to the potential threat of a bomb being present by initiating evacuation of members of the public and other staff.

While the suspect has reportedly acknowledged making the statement, he is said to have offered a partial denial of the charges, indicating that while he did say it, he did not intend to disrupt operations.

The man reportedly explained his actions by stating that he was excited about the Expo, which he had been looking forward to, and made the comment “half-jokingly”.

The police station noted that the suspect possessed a ticket allowing multiple entries to the Expo, indicating that he was likely a genuine visitor who had made an error of judgment and thought that his “bomb threat joke” would go down well with staff.

This incident marks the first arrest at the Expo site since it opened and should serve as a reminder that making comments surrounding security threats are not something that should be done in jest as the consequences should be expected to be severe.

Sources: Mainichi Shimbun