JAPAN: DEMONSTRATIORS HURL FIRE-BOMBS AT JETLINER CARRYING FOREIGN MINISTER AICHI ON SOVIET-USA TALKS.

Record ID: 358295

  • Title: JAPAN: DEMONSTRATIORS HURL FIRE-BOMBS AT JETLINER CARRYING FOREIGN MINISTER AICHI ON SOVIET-USA TALKS.
  • Date: 5th September 1969
  • Summary: AICHI BOARDING AIRCRAFT, PLANE TAXIING; MARK LEFT BY EXPLODING BOMB; POLICE ARRESTING BOMB-THROWERS AND GRAPPLING WITH DEMONSTRATORS; CRATED OF MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. Initials CG/VS/PW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th September 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO - JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVAEXYARBOVZ4716D5LXP3BV9WJY
  • Story Text: DEPARTURE OF A JOINT JAPANESE AIRLINES-AEROFLOT JET TAKING JAPAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER KIICHI AICHI TO TALKS IN THE SOVIET UNION AND THE U.S.A. WAS DELAYED YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) WHEN FIREBOMBS WERE HURLED IN FRONT OF THE TAXIING AIRCRAFT AT TOKYO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

    ONLY ONE OF THE FIREBOMBS ACTUALLY EXPLODED, AND NO-ONE WAS HURT; THE UNHARMED JET TOOK OFF 20 MINUTES LATER.

    ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, MR AICHI HAS LEFT JAPAN ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO DEMAND THE RETURN OF NORTHERN ISLANDS FROM THE SOVIET UNION, AND TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE U.S.A. FOR THE RETURN OF OKINAWA. THE LATTER MEETING IS DESIGNED TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A TOP-LEVEL CONFERENCE BETWEEN JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER SATO AND PRESIDENT NIXON IN NOVEMBER.

    IN HIS INITIAL TALKS WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM P. ROGERS ON SEPTEMBER 12, MR AICHI WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE ASKED FOR THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S APPROVAL FOR THE CONTINUED PRESENCE ON OKINAWA OF AMERICAN B-52 BOMBERS CURRENTLY ENGAGED ON MISSIONS OVER NORTH VIETNAM.

    SHORTLY AFTER MR AICHI'S JET STARTED TO TAXI FOR TAKE-OFF, FIVE YOUNG DEMONSTRATORS RAN ONTO THE RUNAWAY, SHOUTING ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS, AND HURLED MOLOTOV COCKTAILS IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT.

    AFTER ONLY ONE OF THE FIREBOMBS HAD EXPLODED, CAUSING A SLIGHT SCAR ON THE RUNWAY AND NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT, THE YOUNG MEN WERE ARRESTED BY AIRPORT POLICE.

    FOLLOWING MR AICHI'S DEPARTURE, POLICE HAD TO COPE WITH MORE VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT, AND CAME ACROSS FURTHER LARGE QUANTITIES OF HOME-MADE FIRE-BOMBS. MANY MORE ARRESTS WERE MADE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register