Condolences poured in from across the world after Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving Japanese PM, was shot dead during a campaign speech in Japan’s Nara on Friday.
67-year-old Abe was delivering an election campaign speech on a street in Nara around 11:30 am when he was attacked from behind by an unidentified man with a shotgun. He was struck by a bullet in the chest.
Local fire department officials said Abe was bleeding after being shot and went into cardiac arrest. He was rushed to a prefectural hospital but was showing no vital signs.
1-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING IN INDIA
India on Friday announced one-day national mourning over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing him as a global statesman who made an immense contribution to elevating bilateral relations.
“I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place,” PM Modi said in a series of tweets.
PM Modi added the Quad, the ASEAN-led forums, the Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative, the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure “all benefited from his contributions”.
As far as global leadership is concerned, Abe San was ahead of his times. The Quad, the ASEAN-led forums, the Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative, the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure all benefited from his contributions.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022
QUAD MOURNS ABE’S ASSASINATION
The leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) expressed “shock” at the tragic assassination of Shinzo Abe, said the White House in a statement issued on Friday.
“We, the leaders of Australia, India, and the United States, are shocked at the tragic assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries,” the statement read.
According to the White House, Abe played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
WORLD LEADERS IN SHOCK
“The world has lost a great man of vision,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and added that Abe’s murder is “incredibly shocking”, and he is “deeply saddened.”
“The assassination of Shinzo Abe is incredibly shocking and I’m deeply saddened. The world has lost a great man of vision, and Canada has lost a close friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Akie, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You’ll be missed, my friend,” tweeted Trudeau.
The assassination of @AbeShinzo is incredibly shocking and I’m deeply saddened. The world has lost a great man of vision, and Canada has lost a close friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Akie, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You’ll be missed, my friend.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 8, 2022
US President Joe Biden on Friday expressed outrage over the assassination of “friend” Shinzo Abe and called him a “champion of friendship between our people”.
Taking it to Twitter, Biden said, “I am stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed. He was a champion of the friendship between our people. The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief.”
I am stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed. He was a champion of the friendship between our people.
The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 8, 2022
South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, sent his condolences to Japan and condemned the assassination.
I send my condolences to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s family and the Japanese people.
An act of terrorism during an election is a brutal attack against the very foundation of democracy. It is utterly unacceptable, and I strongly condemn such an attack.
— President Yoon Suk Yeol (@President_KR) July 8, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his “deepest condolences” to Abe’s family and the people of Japan. “This heinous act of violence has no excuse,” Zelenskyy tweeted.
Horrible news of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I am extending my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse.
— (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2022
“Incredibly sad news,” tweeted the outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people. The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.”
Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe.
His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people.
The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 8, 2022
Shinzo Abe first came to power in 2006 when he became the prime minister. At 52, he was Japan’s youngest post-war PM. However, he stepped down and resigned a year later as the Liberal Democratic Party lost an Upper House election.
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