Terrorist Guerilla Attack (Probably Small) on US Yokota AFB in Tokyo Report (Breaking)

Kyodo News Service Ticker ^ | 13 March 2003 | Kyodo News Service

[AmericanInTokyo]

Breaking. (In Japanese)

Just 'news ticker' at this point. Says that there are reports of a 'guerilla' attack (incident) upon the US Air Force Base of Yokota, in western Tokyo.

Breaking on Kyodo in Japanese.

Considering the headline, it probably was a small incident created by terrorist elements of the Japanese radical or anarchist left.

Details unconfirmed.

Occasionally these elements plant pipe bombs or set down bottle rocket launchers and fire away at US bases in Japan. They have been known to injure people or destroy property.

Until more information comes in, perhaps we might see it as a small action.

Dispatch ran around a little before 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time Wednesday.

[mhking]

Just damn. More distractions.

Prayers for the families of the soldiers involved...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Bump!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Several explosions reported. Near Fussa Gate, western part of the US Air Base.

[AmericanInTokyo]

10:15 p.m. and another explosion at 10:30 p.m. Japan Time (8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time)

Japanese locals called 110 (their '911).

Bomb (launch) materials were found. Probably a timed launcher. Will provide more details. No injuries.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sankei Shimbun is running this story right now.

[Coop]

We appreciate the updates. Glad to hear nobody was injured. God bless our troops!

[Mortimer Snavely]

Say goodbye to stalls of merchandise and food outside the gates on Friendship Days. Say goodbye to Friendship Days, as well.

This is really terrible.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Correction, East Gate area of Yokota (based on resident's reports). Japanese eyewitnesses said they saw the bomb projectile (s) travel from North to South. Launching material (probably crude) as been discovered. No projectiles found yet.

Probably something between 'kid' stuff play' and outright organized terrorist attack. It will keep the MP there tonight on their toes and brewing the coffee!

Repeat, this does not sound major now that details are coming in. I believe no US media is reporting this.

[strela]

We had two of these small attacks when I was stationed at NSGA Kamiseya. One of the attackers threw a small pipe bomb at an electrical transformer - of course it failed to go off. But, he injured one of the Marine guards as he tried to climb back over the fence. I suspect he's still in a jail cell somewhere.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japanese press reports this is another in a series of attacks. The previous one was last November, fired at the US Army base of Zama, southwest of Tokyo.

[jriemer]

AIT,

This is not the first time these guys have pulled a stunt like this...

2/12/02 - Japanese left-wing radicals were suspected of firing a crude rocket launcher at a U.S. Navy oil storage facility southwest of Tokyo, police said Feb. 12. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the incident late Feb. 12 near the Navy's Koshiba Fuel Terminal in Yokohama, about 28 miles southwest of Tokyo. Residents reported hearing a large explosion and police later discovered two steel pipes attached to benches on the grounds of a high school about 440 yards away from the U.S. facility, police and U.S. military officials said. Frayed wires and a timing device recovered at the scene indicated that one of the pipes was used to fire a projectile in the direction of the fuel terminal, but no traces of it had been found by Feb. 12. Police suspected radical left-wing groups that have for decades voiced opposition to the U.S. military presence in Japan, said police spokesman Naruhito Sasaki. About 47,000 American troops are stationed in Japan.

[steveegg]

At least it's not major. And you're right; no word other than the FR Wire Service™ (which once again, beats everybody on this side of the Pacific to the punch).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Irritating, yes. Dangerous, yes. Major? I would say no at this point. Sounds like the usual 'kageki-ha' radical stuff they are known to do around US bases in Japan. They are probably just stepping it up as they don't like what we are about to do to Iraq and later, North Korea.

[Peach]

Stay safe.

[AmericanInTokyo]

But of course.

Yes, and they have launched stuff at the Emperor, Narita Airport, G-7 Summits, the Imperial Palace and what not. They leave these little piddly launchers behind. Bet the cops are photographing and chalking a lot right now in Fussa, Japan.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Not in Japan right now. The 'handle' unfortunately fools people from time-to-time! :-)

[rabidralph]

We had two of these small attacks when I was stationed at NSGA Kamiseya.

Were you there '89-'91? I remember a small attack at one of those smaller bases when I was at Yokota. They also liked to launch rockets at the Emporer's palace, too.

[Consort]

Ban the word "breaking".

[jriemer]

Yes, and they have launched stuff at the Emperor, Narita Airport, G-7 Summits, the Imperial Palace and what not. They leave these little piddly launchers behind. Bet the cops are photographing and chalking a lot right now in Fussa, Japan.

The "good" thing is that any model rocketry club worth its salt could put more payload on target than these cretins.

The "bad" thing is they are skillful enough to not blow themselves up in the process so they keep trying...