Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot in the neck while delivering a campaign speech.
A former marine is accused of having shot Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an election rally in the western region of Nara, ahead of Sunday's senatorial elections.
According to the Jiji news agency, the 67-year-old collapsed and was bleeding from the neck before being taken into hospital.
Several media outlets are reporting that Abe appears to be in 'cardiorespiratory arrest.' This term is commonly used in Japan to indicate the absence of any sign of life and usually precedes an official death certificate. He has now been declared dead
Suspect arrested
Following the shooting, a man in his 40s was apprehended and charged with murder. According to Japanese media, the suspect served in the Navy for three years, until 2005.
The gun he used to shoot the former Prime Minister was said to be homemade as Japan has very strict gun laws.
Related News
- Energy, war, and China: What’s being discussed at the G7 summit?
- Woman living in Leuven elected to be mayor in Japan
- 83-year-old Japanese oldest to sail solo across Pacific Ocean
On Friday, before Abe's death was announced, current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that "this is a barbaric act in the middle of an election campaign, which is the foundation of democracy."
Former Belgian Prime Minister and current EU Council President Charles Michel said he was shocked and saddened at the "cowardly attack" on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom he called a "true friend, a staunch defender of the multilateral order and democratic values."
[embed]https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1545286246406258689?s=20&t=Pj22HsUyFIuxz5wKbSErNw[/embed]
