Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe Shot News Live: The 67-year-old Japanese leader was shot twice and collapsed on a street in Nara city as several security guards ran towards him, showed television footage.
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 Abe, reported Japanese media house NHK quoting police sources. He is reportedly a former member of the maritime self-defence force and appears to have shot at the ex-Prime Minister from behind with a homemade gun. The reason for the attack is yet to be confirmed.
PM Modi had earlier said he was deeply distressed by the attack on Abe. In footage aired on TV, Abe is seen collapsing on the street, with several security guards running toward him. The 67-year-old world leader is then seen holding his chest through his blood-smeared shirt as he collapsed.
Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, has died, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK announced on Friday (July 8). He had earlier been unconscious and showing no vital signs after being shot at and wounded at an election meeting earlier in the morning. He was 67.
NHK said, “According to LDP officials, Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister, who was shot with a gun during the speech, died at a hospital in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, where he was being treated.”
The assassin was identified by the Japanese media as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old, who was an ex-marine in Japan’s self-defence forces.
Abe — one of the most consequential leaders of Japan in its post-war history — was the country’s longest serving Prime Minister, having served two terms from 2006 to 2007 and then from 2012 to 2020. He announced in August 2020 that he would step down from his post following the resurfacing of a chronic illness. Abe, who was then 65, was due to be in office until September 2021
Fprmer Japanese PM Shinzo Abe already had no vital signs on arrival to hospital, the doctor said. He added that Abe's wound was deep enough to reach his heart. "Abe had sustained wounds around the right side of his neck," the Nara Medical University Hospital doctor said. "Abe was bleeding profusely and unfortunately and we could not save him." -- with inputs from Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will observe a day of national mourning on July 9 as a mark of respect to former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to late Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, terming him "a towering global statesman" and "an outstanding leader"
