Man nabbed at Imperial Palace after scaling wall from moat

tokyoreporter.com -- May 26

Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a man after allegedly trespassed onto the grounds of the Imperial Palace on Monday, reports Jiji Press (May 25).

At around 10:20 a.m., the man, believed to be around the age of 40, swam across the moat near the Sakurada Gate.

He then scaled a climbed a tree-lined embankment and scaled a stone wall before entering the grounds.

Imperial Guards apprehended the man at the scene on suspicion of trespassing, police said.

According to police, His Majesty the Emperor was present at the palace that morning for rice planting. Police are now questioning the man in seeking a motive for the crime.

In 2008, police apprehended a male British national at the palace after he swam while fully nude in the moat.

In that case, the pursuit by police took 90 minutes. During that time, the British national scaled walls, swam in the moat and wielded a plastic pole as he fled from officers.

May 26 (ANNnewsCH) - 皇居に侵入したとして男が逮捕されました。男は堀を泳いで渡ったとみられています。  皇居を警備する皇宮警察によりますと、男は25日午前、東京・千代田区の桜田門近くで堀を泳いで向かい側の皇居に侵入した疑いが持たれています。現場に駆け付けた護衛官が建造物侵入の疑いで現行犯逮捕しました。男は日本人で40歳前後とみられ、皇宮警察が身元の確認や侵入した動機を調べています。