Ad Hoc Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
According to the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh, at around 9:30 p.m. on July 1, local time, or 12:30 a.m. on July 2, Japan time, an armed group attacked a restaurant in Dhaka. The group took hostages, initiated a siege and engaged in a gun battle with the police, which has resulted in several casualties among the police and others. Given that there is also a possibility that Japanese nationals have been involved in this incident, the Government is exerting all efforts to confirm the facts. The Prime Minister has issued two instructions, namely to make every effort to collect information and confirm the facts, and to work closely with countries concerned, including Bangladesh, in prioritizing the safety of those involved. In terms of the Government’s response to the situation, at 2:45 a.m. on July 2, Japan time, a local emergency response headquarters was established at the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh, which sent out an e-mail to all Japanese residents and travelers in Bangladesh, warning them of the situation. This e-mail was issued at 3:00 a.m., Japan time. In addition, at 4:50 a.m. an information liaison office was established at the Prime Minister’s Office. This office is engaging in the collection of information and has now been converted to the emergency response office at the Prime Minister’s Office and is prioritizing efforts to ensure people’s safety. The Government has also decided to dispatch members of the Counter Terrorism Unit – Japan to Dhaka to strengthen our information gathering efforts.

Following this incident the Prime Minister has cancelled his election campaign visit to Hokkaido that was scheduled for today.