Police investigate explosions at Japanese US Army base

Japanese police are investigating a suspected guerrilla attack on the US Army after two small explosions occurred outside a military base south of Tokyo, police said today.

Investigators found a pair of metal tubes planted on the ground, believed to be used as rocket launchers from a park near the US base, said Kanagawa prefecture police spokesman Hiroyoshi Ichikawa.

Ichikawa said the device pointed toward the US Army base, and suspected guerrillas, possibly leftist extremists, were behind last night’s attack but could not rule out a possibility of a terrorist attack.

The Army was also investigating the blast, said an official at Camp Zama, adding that there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Security around US bases in Japan appeared the same as usual, police said.

Zama residents reported hearing the explosion twice last night. Police were still investigating the neighbourhood, searching for more evidence today.

Neither Camp Zama or nearby residents have reported any injury or damage from the explosion, Ichikawa said. The Army could not immediately confirm what had caused the explosion.