Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been shot at in the city of Nara. Initial reports indicated that gunshots were heard just before Abe collapsed and is now in a “state of cardiopulmonary arrest.”
NHK, the public broadcaster of Japan, reported that Abe, who served as the country’s prime minister for the longest period of time until he resigned in 2020, appeared to be bleeding from the chest after being shot with a shotgun on Friday morning.
NHK stated that a man had been arrested but gave no other information. Ahead of this coming Sunday’s upper house elections, Abe had traveled to the city of Nara to deliver a campaign speech.
Video of the scene where Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was shot. Paramedics actively working on Abe and reportedly the suspect being carried out. pic.twitter.com/9DYrmCoxBX
— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) July 8, 2022
Shootings are uncommon in Japan, which has some of the strictest gun laws among advanced economies.
Gunshots were reportedly heard by witnesses during the attack in Nara. He was standing while delivering a speech during the campaign for the Sunday upper house elections.
According to reports, Shinzo Abe has been shot and is not breathing and shows no vital signs, but he’s not been confirmed as dead.
🇯🇵 On Japanese social medias, the photo of the immediate aftermath shows the Japanese Secret Service after arresting the attacker
Reportedly, according to local media and netizens, the assailant is a 40 years old man pic.twitter.com/xH5EaP3viY
— Abdul Quadir – عبد القادر (@Journaltics) July 8, 2022
Stills of Shinzo Abe's alleged attacker being grabbed by security, via Asahi Shimbun (credit: 上田真美) #安倍晋三 pic.twitter.com/9OqA8o7G7r
— Tom Bateman (@tomb8man) July 8, 2022
Even though the attack’s perpetrator has been detained, his identity is still being kept from the media.
Breaking: Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shot during speech in Nara, Japan. pic.twitter.com/W8d0fpFOTc
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) July 8, 2022
