Former Japanese PM Abe Shinzo shot dead in Nara, man in his 40s arrested

ACN Correspondent On Jul 8, 2022

Shinzo Abe, former Japan Prime Minister, was shot at in Nara city on July 8, 2022. A suspect was apprehended at the scene. (Photo via Twitter/@bulletinletters

TOKYO: Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo died after being shot twice from a close range in Nara on Friday when he was campaigning for the upcoming election.

The 67-year-old world leader was rushed to hospital in grave condition, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in an address to the nation. A suspect has been taken into custody.

Abe was making a speech for an election campaign in Nara City. He collapsed at around 11: 30 a.m JST., after people on the scene heard what sounded like a gun going off twice, reported Japanese media house NHK .

A 41-year-old man Tetsuya Yamagami, believed to be a resident of Nara City, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for shooting at Shinzo Abe, reported NHK quoting police sources. It added that Abe was likely hit from behind by shotgun fire.

Abe was taken to a hospital. The fire department says he is showing no vital signs.

Police arrested 41-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya in Nara City for allegedly attempting murder. They say they seized a gun at the site which the suspect was apparently holding.

WATCH LIVE VIDEO: Attacker caught. pic.twitter.com/WfkUDH9lfo — Gordon Knight (@GordonlKnight) July 8, 2022

Abe was transferred by medevac to Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara City in the prefecture. Police say Abe appears to have been shot from behind.

An NHK reporter who was at the scene says Abe was bleeding.

The site is near Yamatosaidaiji Station in Nara City.

Abe was campaigning for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate before the Upper House election scheduled on Sunday.

“Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo collapsed during a speech in the city of Nara, in western Japan. Initial reports say he may have been injured. An NHK reporter on site heard something that sounded like a gunshot, and saw Abe bleeding,” the agency said in an alert.

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