Suspect Hunted in Attacks on U.S. Embassy, Palace in Tokyo

Japanese police were hunting a man in white clothes, seen driving a car that crashed through a checkpoint in southeast Tokyo, in connection with Tuesday’s rocket attacks on the U.S. Embassy and the Imperial Palace.

There were no damages or injuries reported in the attacks. However, at least one incendiary device landed on the palace grounds while Emperor Hirohito was napping and another ricocheted off a window at the embassy. Both devices fell harmlessly to the ground.

The simultaneous attacks penetrated security already tightened in preparation for the May 4-6 annual economic summit of seven world leaders, including President Reagan.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility. But police said they suspect leftist radicals who have vowed to disrupt the summit and a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the emperor’s reign, scheduled one week before the international meeting.

Police said five explosive devices--seven-inch-long aerosol hair spray cans filled with flammable liquid--were fired from compact cars found parked on busy streets outside the embassy and palace grounds around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. The two facilities are about a half-mile apart in the city center.

None of the devices exploded, but one fell 500 yards from Emperor Hirohito’s living quarters, setting off a cloud of smoke.

Police said timers were used to fire the devices from crude launchers rigged inside the trunks of the cars, which they said were stolen. They said timers also opened the trunks and that no suspects were observed.

Police said later they found a third car in a Tokyo suburb with three similar but unused devices attached to launchers in its trunk. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department put its entire force on alert and set up an investigation committee.

Hours after the incident, Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe sent a personal message to U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield expressing regret and pledging to improve the guard around the embassy compound.