JAPAN TODAY



 

The Tokyo High Court on Monday temporarily banned entry into its building and canceled some scheduled trial sessions after receiving a bomb threat, the court said.

The building, which also houses the Tokyo District Court, was not accessible from the outside starting noon until 2 p.m., and trials scheduled through 2:29 p.m. will either be held later in the day or moved to another day, it said.

The trial sessions included the high court's ruling over a vote weight disparity of up to 3.03 seen in the House of Councillors election this July. The ruling will now be handed down at 3:30 p.m., two hours after originally scheduled.

The high court said visitors already inside the building have been asked to leave.

According to police, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan received an e-mail around 3:25 a.m. saying, "I will blow up the Tokyo District Court on 1:34 p.m. Monday," with the name of an individual believed to be a man included in the message.

The Tokyo Fire Department has also received a similar e-mail, police said.



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