Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving former prime minister has died after being shot twice as he made a campaign speech in the south of the country earlier today.
The former leader, who served for a total of nine years over two terms, was shot in the city of Nara around 11.30 am as he rallied support for the local candidate ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday.
His death was announced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party six hours later, shortly after his wife Akie arrived at his bedside.
However, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41 and a navy veteran, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder while wielding what appeared to be a homemade shotgun.
The Police say he has since confessed, telling them he wanted to kill Abe because he was ‘dissatisfied’ with him.
Also witnesses said Abe was about to start speaking when Yamagami approached him from behind and fired two shots, the second of which felled him. Several members of Abe’s security detail tackled Yamagami while others gave the politician chest compressions before he was taken to hospital via helicopter.
Also, Prime Minister Kishida called the shooting an attack on ‘the foundation of democracy’, describing it as ‘heinous’, ‘barbaric and malicious’, and ‘absolutely unforgivable’. ‘I would like to use the most extreme words available to condemn this act,’ he added.
