Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on Friday after he was shot by an assailant in the morning. Abe collapsed after being shot in the chest while delivering a speech in Nara City.
He was campaigning on a street for Liberal Democratic Party candidate at the House of Councillors election. According to reports in the local media, the former prime minister collapsed at around 11: 30 am after being shot twice. Abe was rushed to Nara Medical University Hospital, where he died in the evening.
The killing of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister has shocked leaders across the world. India has decided to observe one-day nationwide mourning on Saturday.
Expressing his shock over the tragic death of Abe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “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.”
Prime Minister further said in a tweet, “as a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister #ShinzoAbe, a one-day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022.” Abe shared a deep bonding with PM Modi.
Abe had stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons. He was prime minister of Japan twice, from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. Meanwhile, the police have detained the assailant and retrieved a gun from the scene. The shooting suspect is an ex-member of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
Earlier during the day, Abe, 67, was rushed to hospital after he collapsed at 11.30 am during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara ahead of Sunday’s elections for Japan’s upper house of Parliament.
Initial media reports, citing authorities said that it appeared that Abe was shot at in the chest and described the condition of the former PM as in “cardiopulmonary arrest.”
Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida earlier in his live address to the country on Friday said, “this is not a forgivable act.” Kishida further said that the motive behind Abe’s shooting is not known.
The media outlet citing government sources also reported that Abe’s shooting suspect is an ex-member of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.