Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe assassinated

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is confirmed to have died from this morning’s shooting, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing officials.

Abe, 67, was shot during a speech on Friday in the city of Nara, near Kyoto. He served as prime minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.

He was the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history.

Medics at Nara Medical University Hospital said Abe had no vital signs when he arrived at the hospital but that they conducted resuscitation. He had wounds in the neck and back. Abe was confirmed dead at 5.03pm local time.

Police arrested a 42-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, from Nara at the scene. He is a former member of the maritime self-defence force, according to Fuji TV. He reportedly left the force in 2005.

Media reports quoted police as saying that the weapon thought to have been used in the attack was homemade. Japan’s gun-ownership restrictions do not allow private citizens to have handguns, and licensed hunters may own only rifles.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti at Sharecast.com