Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed in the western city of Nara on the 10th while campaigning for the House of Councilors election.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Shinzo Abe shot after campaign speech
Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that Shinzo Abe was shot while giving an election campaign speech at 11:30 a.m. local time.
They added that the 67-year-old leader appeared to be bleeding from his chest. Several bullets were fired at Prime Minister Abe, injuring his left chest and neck.
It is speculated that he was likely shot in the back by a shotgun during a speech.
Nevertheless, the media reported that Prime Minister Abe was immediately transferred to Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara City. Early responders were said to have claimed that Abe was “not showing signs of vitality” and that his heart may have stopped at the scene.
NHK World Japan TV video being filmed by Shinzo Abe pic.twitter.com/niucWs9Xyu
— Eric Sturrock (@EricSturrock) July 8, 2022
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno spoke with reporters about the tragic event.
He said, ‘Ex-Prime Minister Abe was shot in the country around 11:30 a.m. A man believed to be the shooter has been detained. The status of former Prime Minister Abe is currently unknown.’
In addition, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Fumio Kishida arranged a press conference to resolve the case at 2:50 pm.
He said Abe was “in critical condition.”
“Currently, doctors are doing their best,” Kishida said. Even at this moment, I am praying and praying for Abe to survive.’
reaction to news
The news that Shinzo Abe was shot aroused shock and condemnation in Japan and around the world.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted that he was shocked by the news.
A photo of the suspect who shot Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The weapon looks like a custom top-off shotgun. pic.twitter.com/eVDcZPZ5xW
— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) July 8, 2022
‘At this point, our thoughts are with his family and the Japanese people,’ he wrote.
US Ambassador to Japan Ram Emanuel expressed his ‘sad and shock’ over the shooting on Friday.
Thoughts and prayers about former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had just been shot in an assassination attempt.
Abe was a loyal ally of the United States and fiercely defended the ideology of national sovereignty.
He’s the one to the right of Merkel with her arms crossed.
Total Legend. pic.twitter.com/3UYnqv7ub
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com (@JordanSchachtel) July 8, 2022
He also said that ‘Mr. Abe is an outstanding leader of Japan and a firm ally of the United States.’
“The United States government and the American people are praying for the well-being of Prime Minister Abe, his family and the Japanese people,” Emmanuel continued.
So in the more pictures that come out, it appears that the gun used to shoot Shinzo Abe is a home-made double-barreled shotgun. It’s incredibly crude, but still capable of doing what it can. Pray for the creed. pic.twitter.com/HWcNWtTqwv
— Doctor Strangelove (@DocStrrangelove2) July 8, 2022
Abe is Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. He served for one year in 2016, but served as prime minister again from December 2012 to September 2020.
Surprisingly, however, he resigned in August 2020 after a chronic disease recurred.
Let Shinzo Abe and his family pray tonight. pic.twitter.com/ayo8KRlOoK
— Amerislax ☀️ (@AnthraxForever) July 8, 2022
Maddi
I am an avid reader and gluttony observer. My passion for reading and research made me a writer.