Police approached a suspect after Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, was apparently shot in front of Yamatosaidaiji station on Friday in Nara, Japan. Credit … The Asahi Shimbun, via Getty Images
TOKYO – Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime minister, collapsed and fell unconscious after he was apparently shot dead Friday while giving a speech in western Japan, according to a fire official.
Mr Abe, 67, appeared to be bleeding after a gunshot was heard in the city of Nara, near Kyoto, according to an NHK reporter, the public broadcaster. Kyodo News said Mr Abe had been shot in the chest.
NHK, citing police, said a suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, had been arrested. He was a resident of Nara, according to the report.
Seigo Yasuhara, an official at the Nara Fire Department command center, said Mr Abe was in cardiopulmonary arrest and had been taken by ambulance to a medical evacuation helicopter. He was then taken to Nara Medical University Hospital, the Nara Fire Department said.
Mr. Abe was unconscious and showed no vital signs, Mr. Yasuhara.
Mr. Abe was the longest-serving prime minister in the country and served two terms, from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. He resigned in 2020 due to health issues.
The former prime minister was in Nara campaigning ahead of Sunday’s upper house parliamentary elections. Mr. Abe was giving a campaign speech on behalf of Kei Sato, 43, a current member of the Upper House who is running for re-election in Nara, when he was shot.
Fumio Kishida, the current prime minister, was campaigning in Yamagata prefecture and was due to return to Tokyo, where he was expected to speak to the media.
Hirokazu Matsuno, chief secretary of Prime Minister Kishida’s cabinet, said a crisis management center had been set up in the prime minister’s office.
Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said in a Twitter post, “We are all sad and shocked,” adding, “Abe-san has been a prominent leader in Japan and an unwavering ally of the U.S. U.S. government and the American people. We are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family and the people of Japan. “
Show more