Breaking news: Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was assassinated while speaking at an event in Nara, his country. Shinzo Abe, who was shot in the chest and collapsed to the ground in blood, died in the hospital where he was taken seriously injured. While it was reported that the attacker was a former soldier, he was caught and detained after the incident. Clear photographs of the moment of arrest of the attacker, whose first statement was revealed, were also served. Here are the latest developments…
LOSE LIFE IN HOSPITAL
Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was gunned down during his election speech in Nara city. According to eyewitness accounts and footage from amateur cameras, a man in his 40s wearing a gray T-shirt and beige trousers approached Abe from behind, addressing the public near Yamato-Saidaiji Station at around 11.30 am local time. Two shots were then heard, and Abe collapsed to the ground after the second shot. Abe, who was reported to have been shot in the chest, was taken to a nearby hospital, but could not be cured despite the interventions.
ATTACKER Caught, Identity Revealed
While the police detained the suspect, who did not make an effort to escape, on suspicion of attempted murder, the weapon used in the attack was also seized in the region. On the other hand, while it was reported that the attacker was a former soldier named Tetsuya Yamagami, clear images of the moment of his capture emerged.
FIRST WORDS OF THE ATTACKER
The suspect, who was taken into custody, said he was dissatisfied with Japan’s former prime minister and tried to kill him, NHK reported.
WORKS WHILE IN OFFICE
Abe, who first became prime minister in 2006, resigned a year later, citing health problems. After returning to duty in December 2012, he worked on economic and working style reforms. Abe has also made efforts to encourage government support for childcare. Abe, who increased military expenditures during his tenure and did not give up on his goal of changing the pacifist Japanese constitution after World War II, also came to the fore with his work for the return of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
Corruption Scandal
Abe also attracted the attention of the public with various corruption allegations. Abe, who drew the opposition’s reaction with the allegations that a state-owned land in Japan was given very cheaply to a private school business affiliated with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie Abe, was also criticized for wasting citizens’ taxes by inviting his political supporters to a party attended by hundreds of guests.
HE RESIGNED DUE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS
Abe, who won the support of the public for many years with a series of policies known as “Abenomics”, aimed at reviving the Japanese economy and preventing deflation, was recently criticized for not taking enough responsibility in the Covid-19 epidemic. This election of Abe, who preferred to stay out of sight from time to time during the epidemic, strengthened the allegations that he had health problems and had difficulty in carrying out his duties as prime minister. Expressing that his ulcerative colitis, which he had been able to control during his tenure, started to worsen again, Abe announced to the public that he had decided to resign on 28 August 2020. Abe reached 2,887 days in office in 2019, making him Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Continuing to do politics in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after leaving his post as Prime Minister, Abe was in Nara today to support an LDP candidate who will run in the upper house elections to be held on Sunday.
CONDEMNATION OF TURKEY’S ASSASSINESS ATTEMPT TO ABE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned today’s heinous armed attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In the statement made by the ministry, it was stated, “We strongly condemn the heinous armed attack carried out today against the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. We wish a speedy recovery to Abe Shinzo, who has made significant contributions to Turkish-Japanese relations, and convey our best wishes to his family, friendly Japanese people and Government.”
(UAV)