The fire department in the Japanese city of Nara (west) confirmed that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot in the back by a man armed with a rifle while the politician was delivering a campaign speech in an open area, showed no signs of life and was in a state of «cardiopulmonary arrest» when an ambulance transported him to a hospital.
According to the Japanese government spokesperson, Mr. Abe was attacked by the gunman at around 11:30 (local time).
The man who fired shots at the politician—who served longer than anyone else as Japan’s prime minister (2006–2007, 2012–2020)—has been arrested, and the weapon he used has been seized by the police, according to media reports. He is a 42-year-old man, according to initial reports.
The police, who were contacted by the French Press Agency, were unable to provide further details about the attack.
The former head of government was delivering a speech ahead of the Senate elections scheduled for the day after tomorrow, Sunday, when he came under fire, according to Japan’s public television network NHK and the Kyodo News Agency.
Shinzo Abe collapsed, bleeding from his chest and neck, according to a source close to his party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), to the Jiji news agency.
The news that «former Prime Minister Abe (…) is in cardiopulmonary arrest,» was first reported by NHK, using the terminology employed by Japanese authorities when death has yet to be officially declared by a medical examiner.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has suspended his election campaign and is on his way to Tokyo
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is rushing back to the country’s capital, Tokyo, interrupting his election campaign, following an armed attack on his predecessor—and current member of his party—Shinzo Abe, according to Japanese media reports.
The major parties are suspending their campaigns ahead of Sunday's Senate elections
The election campaign has been suspended ahead of the vote to renew the composition of the upper house following the armed attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to announcements from the parties’ press offices and Japanese media outlets.
«The U.S. ambassador expresses »sadness« and »shock"
The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Ram Emanuel, expressed «sadness» today, adding that he was «shocked» by the shooting attack against former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his campaign speech.
«We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe-san was an outstanding leader of Japan and a steadfast ally of the United States. The U.S. government and the American people are praying for Abe-san’s well-being, his family, and the Japanese people,» Mr. Emanuel said in a press release he issued.
