Japan’s ex-PM Shinzo Abe shot dead during electoral campaign

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead on Friday morning while giving a speech in western Japan. He was campaigning for a parliamentary election. Abe was 67.

Social media videos showed Abe lying bleeding on the ground in the city of Nara, which is close to Kyoto. A few hours later, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters at a tearful press conference that Abe was in a “very severe condition”. However, he could not sustain the injuries and died. He was shot twice in the neck and left collarbone.

The suspect reportedly served in maritime self-defence force for roughly three years, up until around 2005. Japanese media reported that he informed the police that he was angry with Abe and intended to kill him.

The shooter was subdued by security personnel present at the site, and the 41-year-old suspect is currently in police custody.