Japanese protester tries to extinguish Olympic flame with water pistol

Police in Japan have charged a woman after she allegedly tried to extinguish the Olympic flame with a water pistol during the official torch run.

Kayoko Takahashi was among a packed crowd on Sunday as the torch relay came through Sinba Park, Mito, the capital of Japan's Iberaki prefecture.

In video, Ms Takahashi is shown on the sidelines of the torch relay route appearing to hold a bright water pistol.

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As the runner approaches, the footage appears to show the 53-year-old raise the gun and start squirting water at the naked flame while yelling: "No Olympics" and "Stop the Games".

However, the flame did not go out and the runner was not thrown off his duties.

A member of the security team accompanying the torch held up a shield to deflect the water stream and another one stopped and detained Ms Takahashi until police arrived.

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Ms Takahashi was arrested, and police say she confessed and said she was protesting the games going ahead in Tokyo amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Many in Japan are reportedly against the Olympic games going ahead, with just 14 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and concerns opening the country up to international athletes and officials could cause further spreads of coronavirus.