Military

DATE=11/19/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-296588

TITLE= JAPAN / EXPLOSION (S-O)

BYLINE=AMY BICKERS

DATELINE=TOKYO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Two small explosions were heard late Monday near the headquarters of the U-S army in Japan. As V-O-As Amy Bickers reports from Tokyo, police suspect it may have been an attack involving leftist radicals.

TEXT: Police quoted by Japans Kyodo news agency say no one was injured by the blasts, which occurred late Monday outside Camp Zama, a U-S military base near Tokyo.

The police and U-S military officials say that a metal pipe used as a projectile launcher was found in the area, at a public park outside of the base. An army spokesman says two suspects were believed to be in custody. Because the explosions occurred off-base, Japanese police are handling the investigation.

Kyodo says Japanese officials suspect leftist radicals may be involved. They have targeted U-S military installations in the past. However, there is no evidence that the attack was directed against the base.

Fifty-thousand U-S troops are stationed in Japan under a mutual security agreement. (SIGNED)

NEB/AB/MAR