After being shot at a campaign event, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime Minister, has died in hospital.
Abe was giving a speech in Nara on Friday morning when he was twice shot.
The gunman was stopped by security personnel on the spot. A 41-year old suspect is currently being held in police custody.
Tetsuya Yamagami was the suspect. He admitted to shooting Abe with his homemade gun and that he held a grudge against “specific organisations”, police stated.
Police officers said that several other hand-made weapons similar to the ones used in the attack were confiscated following a search of suspect’s home.
Police also discovered explosives at the house and advised residents to evacuate.
Police said that the suspect shooter claimed he was angry at Abe and added that they were looking into why the former PM was being targeted over other members of the group.
When asked by Japanese media if the gunman wanted to kill Abe the police stated that Yamagami had shot the former PM.
Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, condemned the attack and said: “It’s barbaric and malign and it can’t be tolerated.”
“This attack was an act of brutality which occurred during the elections – the very foundation of democracy – and it is absolutely unforgivable,” Mr Kishida stated, speaking before Abe died.
Doctors said that Abe sustained two bullet wounds to the neck and suffered damage to the heart.
Although he was reported to have been conscious and responsive within minutes of the attack, his condition as a 67-year old deteriorated.
Doctors stated that no vital signs had been detected when the former prime minister was taken to the hospital. Abe was transfused with more than 100 units blood over the course of four hours before being declared dead at 5.03pm GMT (0803. GMT).
Abe was delivering a speech to a candidate for the presidency at a road junction near Nara, when the attack occurred.
Witnesses said they saw a man with a large gun fire twice from the back, which they described as being a large gun fire. Abe fell to his death as stunned bystanders shouted in disbelief.
Abe was accompanied by a security team, but the gunman managed to get within a few meters of Abe without any kind of barrier or checks.
In photos circulated in the aftermath of the shooting, the suspect was seen standing right behind Mr Abe while he delivered his speech.
Security officers jumped onto the attacker and took his weapon.
According to local reports, he was a former member Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (Japan’s equivalent to a navy). According to local reports, he was inactive service since 2005.
Abe’s speech was part a campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party, his former party. Japan’s upper house elections are scheduled to take place later in the week.
Later, ministers from across the country were told to immediately return to Tokyo.
Many Japanese social media users expressed their disgust and horror at the incident by using the hashtag “We want democracy not violence”.
Abe was Japan’s longest serving prime minister. He held office from 2006 to 2012 for one year, then again between 2012 and 2020. Then, he resigned due to health reasons.
Later, he revealed that he had experienced a relapse in ulcerative colitis. This is an intestinal disease.
He was elected to office and pushed for more assertive foreign policies. He had also long sought to amend Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution.
He also advocated for the economic policy known as Abenomics, which was based on fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms.
Yoshihide, a close party ally, succeeded him. He was later replaced later by Fumio Kirishida.
Japan is a country where gun violence is rare. Handguns are prohibited in Japan.
There were six gun deaths in Japan in 2014, compared with 33,599 in the US. To purchase a gun, you must pass a thorough exam and undergo mental health testing. Shotguns and air rifles can only be purchased.
The incident was condemned by prominent voices around the globe, including Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister.
Rahm Emanuel (US ambassador to Japan), said Abe was an “outstanding leader in Japan and an unwavering ally for the US”.
South Korean President Yoon Seuk-yeol described the attack as an “unacceptable crime” and offered condolences for “the Japanese people who have lost their longest-serving prime Minister and respected politician”.
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that his country was shocked at the attack.
When asked about Chinese social media reactions, he said that “this unanticipated incident should not be linked with Sino-Japanese relationships” but did not comment.
Chinese social media have been dominated by comments glorifying the attack on Mr Abe. They also appear on Korean platforms.
China and South Korea have had historically complicated and fraught relations with Japan. During his term, Abe, who is known for being a military hawk, was not popular with the citizens of either country.
