There was a terrorism scare Tuesday in central Tokyo over a small can and a plastic bottle containing suspicious liquid found in a subway station, as security personnel are on high alert for the Group of Eight summit, officials said.
At least 20 policemen and six fire engines along with chemical weapons experts rushed to Tameikesanno Station near the Diet building and major hotels in the capital after a security guard found the objects just outside a ticket gate, said Tatsuya Edakubo, a spokesman for subway operator Tokyo Metro Co.
But after close examination the liquid inside the bottle turned out to be detergent and the can contained only soap — both accidentally left behind by a janitor at the station, Edakubo said.
The area was closed off for about 30 minutes during the evening rush hour, he said.
"It turned out there was nothing harmful," Edakubo said of Tuesday's incident. "Our security guard took extra caution because of the G8 summit."