Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot this morning while campaigning for a parliamentary election in the Nara region of Western Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the shooting in the western city of Nara during the campaign for Sunday’s upper house election as an unacceptable attack on the foundation of Japan’s democracy.
The former Prime Minister was shot at close range, while delivering a speech at a public event.
Mr. Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told local news media.
Mr. Abe was rushed to hospital and appeared to be in cardo-respiratory arrest, according to news agencies. Cardo-respiratory arrest is a term used in Japan indicating ‘no vital signs.’
Doctors told the media that Mr. Abe suffered bullet wounds to the chest and heart and that they were unable to extricate the bullet.
Doctors tried to stop the bleeding and did a transfusion, resuscitation was administered, but they could not resuscitate him and Mr. Abe unfortunately shortly after 5 pm, said Dr. Hidetada Fukushima, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Nara Medical University hospital
Police have detained the suspected gunman, a man in his 40s, Police have also confiscated a gun from him, said Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources.
Japanese news agencies said he was taken to the hospital immediately. He suffered from a cardiac arrest shortly after being shot, news agencies reported.
Officials from the Liberal Democratic Party said Abe was attacked by from behind.
The former Prime Minister had been delivering a stump speech at an event ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections when he was apparently attacked.
Police said a 41-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting had been arrested. NHK quoted the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, as telling police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a news briefing before Mr. Abes death was announced that the attack was a ‘heinous act,’ adding ‘It is barbaric and malicious, and it cannot be tolerated.’
‘I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.’ tweeted PM Modi.
‘As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022,’ he added.
Mr. Abe was Japan longest-serving Prime Minister, serving from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. He resigned in 2020 because of ill health.
Gun violence is rare in Japan, and statistics for gun-related death, injury or property damage regularly feature in the low single or double-digits, owing to strict gun laws and rigorous background checks.
This article has been updated.