Shinzo Abe was shot in the middle of a speech at a campaign event. A rescue official said Abe was unconscious when he was taken away from the scene. However, there are different information about Abe’s condition.
Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was shot at a campaign event early in the morning Finnish time.
Speaking, Abe collapsed to the ground and was rushed to a hospital in the city of Nara, bleeding. The campaign event was organized outside Nara Central Station.
The shooter has been arrested, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK says. The arrested person is a man in his 40s. His motive has not been disclosed. According to the police, the shooter, who used a homemade weapon, did not try to flee the scene.
According to bystanders, Abe appeared to be unconscious when he was taken to the hospital. According to the rescue official, Abe’s heart had stopped and he was not breathing when he was transported to the hospital.
There has been various information about the condition of the former prime minister, because according to a police representative, Abe was conscious.
According to an NHK reporter who was at the campaign event, two shots were heard. The shots apparently hit Abe in the chest and neck.
Both the police and the Japanese government have confirmed that Abe was shot.
Japan’s longest serving prime minister
Abe was the Prime Minister of Japan in 2006–2007 and 2012–2020. Abe is Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. 67-year-old Abe withdrew from the mission due to health problems.
After his term as prime minister, Abe has been a strong influence in Japan’s ruling Liberal Party.
The campaign event where Abe was shot is related to Sunday’s upper house elections in Japan.
The main parties have suspended campaigning due to the tragedy, but there are no plans to postpone the election.
Members of the Japanese government have been urged to travel to Tokyo for an emergency meeting. The government is scheduled to hold a press conference about the incident in the morning Finnish time.
Many world leaders have expressed their shock at Abe’s assassination attempt.
Shootings are extremely rare in Japan.