A man smashed his car into the gate of the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in central Tokyo on Friday, but nobody was injured, police said.
Toru Tasaki, 37, identified as an unemployed former member of a rightwing group, was subdued by police at 3:10 p.m. as he got out of the car yelling abuse aimed at Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is also president of the LDP.
He allegedly yelled, "Koizumi, you idiot!" while scattering handbills reading, "Koizumi, a traitor to the nation who only causes pain to the people, should not be re-elected president."
The incident took place ahead of the Sept. 20 LDP presidential election, which Koizumi is widely expected to win. The LDP president usually serves as prime minister because of the party's dominance in the Diet.
Police officers guarding the LDP headquarters in the Nagata-cho district arrested Tasaki on the spot on suspicion of trespassing.