Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been shot dead while campaigning in Nara, Japan on Friday, Japanese state broadcaster NHK and Jiji news agency reported.
"According to a senior LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67," NHK said.
The 67-year-old former prime minister had been delivering a speech in the Japanese city of Nara, and although security was present at the event, the audience had fairly easy access to him.
The suspect opened fire on Abe from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at the campaigning event. The suspect, who has since been taken into custody, was identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, and had told police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.
41-year-old Yamagami is thought to be a former member of the Maritime Self-Defence Force, the country’s navy.
https://twitter.com/Global_Mil_Info/status/1545256825238470657
“Shinzo Abe was transported to (the hospital) at 12:20pm. He was in a state of cardiac arrest upon arrival. Resuscitation was administered. However, unfortunately he died at 5:03pm,” said Hidetada Fukushima, professor of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University hospital.
A hospital official had said Abe appeared to be in a state of cardiac arrest when airlifted to hospital, after having initially been conscious and responsive.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told media personnel, "Such an act of barbarity cannot be tolerated."
TBS Television reported that Abe had been shot on the left side of his chest and apparently also in the neck.
This was the first assassination of a former or sitting premier since the 1930s, as Japan has very strict gun laws.
"According to a senior LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67," NHK said.
The 67-year-old former prime minister had been delivering a speech in the Japanese city of Nara, and although security was present at the event, the audience had fairly easy access to him.
The suspect opened fire on Abe from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at the campaigning event. The suspect, who has since been taken into custody, was identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, and had told police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.
41-year-old Yamagami is thought to be a former member of the Maritime Self-Defence Force, the country’s navy.
https://twitter.com/Global_Mil_Info/status/1545256825238470657
“Shinzo Abe was transported to (the hospital) at 12:20pm. He was in a state of cardiac arrest upon arrival. Resuscitation was administered. However, unfortunately he died at 5:03pm,” said Hidetada Fukushima, professor of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University hospital.
A hospital official had said Abe appeared to be in a state of cardiac arrest when airlifted to hospital, after having initially been conscious and responsive.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told media personnel, "Such an act of barbarity cannot be tolerated."
TBS Television reported that Abe had been shot on the left side of his chest and apparently also in the neck.
This was the first assassination of a former or sitting premier since the 1930s, as Japan has very strict gun laws.