Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot by a 41-year-old man during a campaign speech, has died.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot by a man during an election speech earlier today.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on Friday after being shot by a 41-year-old man during an election speech. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, was admitted to hospital in grave condition after being shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election in Nara, western Japan.
Earlier, in a press conference, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida confirmed Abe’s condition and said doctors were working hard to save him.
Abe was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was pronounced dead later at the hospital.
The 67-year-old Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down for health reasons in 2020.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at while campaigning in Nara, western Japan. The suspect was arrested on the spot.
Japan Times reported that 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, reported news channel NHK.
WATCH: Bystanders rush to help former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after he is shotpic.twitter.com/vgk7fn323p
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 8, 2022
THE SHOOTER
The suspect, a 41-year-old man dressed in a grey T-shirt, was overpowered by security personnel at the scene and taken into custody. Police also retrieved a gun from where Abe was shot at.
The suspect was later identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of Nara.
(Image credits: Twitter/Asahi Shimbun)
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