TE24 International Desk:
TOKYO – Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is believed to have been shot dead at a campaign rally in the Nara area on Friday, after he was threatened with death on Friday, according to local media reports. NHK, a national broadcaster
A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and the gun has been confiscated, police said, citing sources. According to NHK and Kyodo News, the former leader gave a short speech at an event that appeared to have heard gunshots before Sunday’s House of Council elections.
“He was giving a speech and a man came from behind,” a young woman at the scene told NHK. “The first shot sounded like a toy. He didn’t fall and there was a big explosion. The second shot was more noticeable, the sparks and smoke were visible,” he added.
“People surrounded him and gave him a heart massage after the second shot.” Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from his neck, a source in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Gigi News Agency. Said. Neither the LDP nor the local police could immediately confirm the report.
Both the NHK and Kyodo News reported that Prime Minister Abe had been hospitalized and appeared to be suffering from shortness of breath. It is a term used in Japan to indicate a lack of vital signs and is usually preceded by an official death certificate from a coroner.
Several media outlets reported that he may have been shot in the back with a shotgun. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha was “extremely shocked” by the shooting of the former prime minister, with the country’s foreign minister describing the pair as his friends.
“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is shocked by what has happened to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prayut and Abe are friends and have a relatively close relationship,” Foreign Minister Don Plumduinai told the bank. I told reporters.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has also expressed concern and grief over the shooting death of Washington’s longtime ally, Prime Minister Aber.
“This is a very, very sad moment,” Blinken told reporters at a G20 meeting in Bali that the United States was “deeply saddened and deeply concerned.”
“I don’t know his condition,” Blinken said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her, her family and the Japanese people.”
The Jordanian government said after shooting him on Friday, “Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his family and Japan. I share my thoughts and prayers with others.” Nara died during a campaign speech in the prefecture.
The Jordanian embassy in Japan tweeted on Friday. “The thoughts and prayers of the Jordanian government and people are with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his family and the Japanese people. I mourn the death of Jordan’s world leader and friend Prime Minister Aber.
US Ambassador to Japan Raham Emanuel also said on Friday that he was “sorry and shocked” by the shooting of the former Japanese prime minister.
“We are all saddened and shocked by the shots fired by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Mr. Abe was a prominent leader of Japan and a strong ally of the United States. The US government and the American people were Abe. I pray for happiness. Mr. Abe, his family and the Japanese people.”
