Shinzo Abe had been delivering a stump speech when he was shot.
Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot this morning while campaigning for a parliamentary electionin the Nara region. A man opened fire on Abe, 67, from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara, Japanese media showed earlier. The former leader had been delivering a stump speech at an event ahead of Sunday's upper house elections when the apparent sound of gunshots was heard.
Police said a 41-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting had been arrested. The shooter is a former member of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
News agency NHK quoted the suspect, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, as telling police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.
Here are the highlights on attack on Shinzo Abe:
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The suspect held a grudge against an organisation he believed Shinzo Abe was connected to, Japan police said today.
"The suspect stated that he held a grudge against a particular organisation, and that he committed the crime because he believed former prime minister Abe had a connection to it," a senior police officer in Japan's Nara region told reporters, declining to give further details.
Before fatal shooting, Shinzo Abe was up close with the crowd
Moments before he was fatally shot from behind on Friday, Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was doing what he'd done for decades in politics: getting up close to the crowds and stumping for a local candidate.
Arvind Kejriwal condoles death of former Japan PM Shinzo Abe
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of former prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe on Friday, saying the world has lost a great leader.
"Saddened to know about the demise of former PM of Japan Shinzo Abe. The world has lost a great leader. May the departed soul rest in peace. My prayers are with his family and friends," Kejriwal tweeted.
What we know about Shinzo Abe's shooter
Police sources told local media that a 41-year-old named Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested after the attack on charges of attempted murder.
Several outlets, citing the defence ministry, said Yamagami had spent three years in Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, the country's navy, leaving the service around 2005.
He reportedly used a "handmade" weapon, in a country with strict gun laws that make obtaining a firearm extremely difficult.
NHK said he told police after his arrest that he "was frustrated with the former prime minister and targeted Abe with the intention of killing him".
(AFP)
Explosives found at the shooter's house
Officials found explosives at the house of the shooter today. The 41-year-old, a former member of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, opened fire at Abe with an apparently homemade gun.
"He Was Truly A Patriot Of Japan": Russia On Shinzo AbeThe Kremlin on Friday said it was saddened by the death of Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe and hailed him as a "patriot."
"We are deeply saddened by the news from Japan," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said shortly after a Japanese hospital confirmed Abe was pronounced dead after being shot at a campaign event. "Abe was truly a patriot of Japan."
"Deeply Saddened By Heinous Killing Of Shinzo Abe": NATO Chief NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he was "deeply saddened by the heinous killing" of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was fatally shot Friday at a campaign event.
Stoltenberg tweeted that Abe was "a defender of democracy and my friend and colleague over many years".
He expressed his "deepest condolences" to Abe's family, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and to "the people of NATO's partner Japan at this difficult time".
PM "Shocked" At Tragic Death of Shinzo Abe
"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," PM Modi tweeted.
Japanese Ex PM Shinzo Abe Dies After Being Shot While Campaigning
S Jaishankar 'deeply shocked' by attack on former Japanese PM AbeExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that he is "deeply shocked" by the news about the attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign event in western Japan and prayed for his recovery.
"Deeply shocked by the news about former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Join so many of his friends and admirers in India in praying for him and his family," he tweeted.
Earlier today Abe, 67, was rushed to hospital after he was shot at and collapsed at 11.30 am (local time) during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara ahead of Sunday's elections for Japan's upper house of Parliament.
Japan police raid suspect's home after Abe shooting, claims report.
Deeply distressed by attack on dear friend Shinzo Abe: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep distress at the attack on former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, who is in a critical condition after being shot during a campaign speech on Friday in western Japan. Abe was airlifted to a hospital but he was not breathing and his heart had stopped, officials in Japan said.
"Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan," PM Modi tweeted
NATO chief 'deeply shocked' by 'heinous' attack on Japan's Abe
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg expressed shock Friday at the attack on Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe and said the defence alliance stood by Japan and its government under current premier Fumio Kishida.
"Deeply shocked by the heinous shooting of @AbeShinzo as he was addressing voters. My thoughts are with him and his family. #NATO stands with the people of our close partner #Japan and PM @kishida230," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.
Media reported that Abe was wounded in the chest and neck area. An official of Abe's faction of the ruling party said he was receiving transfusions, NHK said.
China 'shocked' by attack on former Japan PM Abe: foreign ministry
China 'shocked' by attack on former Japan PM Shinizo Abe: foreign ministry
NATO chief 'deeply shocked' by 'heinous' attack on Japan's Shinzo Abe
NATO chief 'deeply shocked' by 'heinous' attack on Japan's Abe
Deeply shocked by attack on former Japan PM Abe: Congress leaders Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said they were shocked by the attack on Japan ex PM Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech.
The 67-year-old Abe was shot at while giving a campaign speech in western Japan. He was not breathing and his heart stopped while being airlifted to a hospital.
In a message, Mr Singh said, "Deeply shocked by the tragic attack on my friend former Prime Minister Abe. My prayers are with him and family".
Deeply shocked by the tragic attack on my friend Shinzo Abe, says Manmohan Singh
"Deeply shocked by the tragic attack on my friend former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. My prayers are with him and family," says former Prime Minister and Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh.
Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the world leaders who expressed shock over the incident. In a Tweet, he said: "Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan."
Shinzo Abe is Japan's longest-serving prime minister
Shinzo Abe, 67, is Japan's longest-serving prime minister. He held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
Shinzo Abe collapsed after a second shot was fired
Shinzo Abe, 67, was making addressing a campaign event when "a man came from behind" and shot him, a young woman told NHK.
According to reports, Shinzo Abe collapsed after a second shot was fired. Several media reports said he was shot with a shotgun.
Shinzo Abe shot at around 11:30 am, condition unknown: Japanese government
The Japanese government has confirmed that former prime minister Shinzo Abe had been shot in the western region of Nara.
"Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 am in Nara. One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody. The condition of former prime minister Abe is currently unknown," chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
US ambassador to Japan 'saddened and shocked' by Abe shooting
The US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, said he was "saddened and shocked" by the shooting.
"We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting of former prime minister Abe Shinzo. Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the United States. The US Government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, and people of Japan," Emanuel said in a statement.
Shinzo Abe was bleeding from neck: Reports
Shinzo Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency.
Man arrested for attempted murder: Media
A man was arrested for attempted murder after former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was apparently shot on Friday while delivering a stump speech, news agency AFP reported quoting local media.
The man appeared to be in his 40s and a gun had been confiscated, said public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources. Local police were not immediately able to comment when contacted by AFP.
Soon after the attack, Mr Abe was rushed to hospital and appeared to be in cardo-respiratory arrest, NHK and Kyodo reported. Cardo-respiratory arrest is a term used in Japan indicating no vital signs, and generally preceding a formal certification of death by a coroner.
Shinzo Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency.
Shinzo Abe was shot at a campaign event in the Nara region on Friday, local media reported.