Blast reported near US base in Japan

TOKYO: A blast was heard near a major US Army base in Japan on Monday, police said, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.   

Police found two steel cylinders believed to have contained explosives near Camp Zama, some 25 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, a police spokesman said.   

He said police were not sure how large the cylinders were and had no immediate reports of damage.   

Kyodo News, quoting police, said the blasts "could have been an attack targetting the US base".   

It said residents heard a blast at around 11:00 pm (1600 GMT).   

More than 40,000 US troops are stationed across Japan, a key military ally of Washington.