Shinzo Abe: Former Japanese PM confirmed dead after being shot in Nara city – latest updates | Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe confirmed dead

Public broadcaster NHK reported that Shinzo Abe died after the shooting this morning, citing officials.

A senior Liberal Democrat official told NHK that Abe died in hospital where he was treated. He was 67 years old.

Public broadcaster NHK has reported that Shinzo Abe is confirmed to have died after this morning’s shooting, citing officials.

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A senior Liberal Democratic party official told NHK that Abe died in the hospital where he had been receiving treatment. He was 67.

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  • Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe is in “critical condition’’ after he was shot while giving a campaign speech in western Japan at about 11.30am on Friday. He was shot in the chest and neck. A male suspect was arrested at the scene.
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  • Prime minister Fumio Kishida said he was praying that Abe would survive and condemned the shooting as “barbaric and malicious”. Japanese media earlier reported that Abe appeared to have no vital signs, citing comments by the local fire department.
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  • Prime minister Kishida said the suspect’s motivations were unclear. Japanese media has reported that he had been a member of the maritime self defence force for about three years, until around 2005. He told police he was frustrated with Abe and intended to kill him, according to national broadcaster NHK.
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  • Media reports quoted police as saying that the weapon thought to have been used in the attack was homemade. Japan has a near “zero-tolerance” of gun ownership and an extremely low rate of gun crime.
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  • Abe had been in the city of Nara giving a campaign speech ahead of this Sunday’s upper house elections when two gunshots were heard. NHK public television broadcast footage showing Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him.
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  • Prime minister Kishida said no decision had been made regarding the upcoming election schedule, but that he was asking all cabinet members to return to Tokyo.
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  • Politicians across the world have expressed concern over Abe’s condition, including in the US, Australia, Indonesia and Taiwan. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said “This is a very, very sad moment. And we’re awaiting news from Japan.”
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Prime minister Fumio Kishida is now taking questions from media.

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He says Shinzo Abe is in a critical condition.

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“Currently doctors are doing everything they can, at this moment. I am hoping and praying that former prime minister Abe will survive this,” he says.

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He describes the shooting as a “heinous act”.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed deep concern over the condition of Shinzo Abe.

“Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan,” Blinken said on the sidelines of a G20 meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali. “This is a very, very sad moment. And we’re awaiting news from Japan.”

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Japanese media has reported that the suspect in the shooting had been a member of the maritime self defence force for about three years, until around 2005.

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Two women who witnessed the incident told NHK that the man approached Abe from behind when he was delivering his speech. A first gunshot was heard, nobody appeared to be injured, the witnesses said. When a second shot was fired Abe fell to the ground and people rushed to treat him.

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Abe’s scheduled speech had been publicised on Thursday evening.

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We have just launched some video footage of the incident in which Abe was shot.

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  • Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been rushed to hospital after he was apparently shot while giving a speech in Western Japan.
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  • Abe is reportedly in heart failure, where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. According to Associated Press, the term is sometimes used by officials in Japan to describe situations where victims are no longer alive, but before a formal declaration of death has been made.
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  • Abe has been sent to a hospital and appears to have no vital signs, according to a local fire department, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK has reported.
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  • Police arrested a male suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
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  • Abe had been in the city of Nara giving a campaign speech ahead of this Sunday’s upper house elections when gunshots were heard.
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  • NHK public television broadcast footage showing Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him. Abe was holding his chest when he collapsed, and his shirt marked with blood.
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The key events:

Hidetada Fukushima, a professor of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University Hospital, said Shinzo Abe suffered two injuries to the front of his neck, about 5cm apart. One of the bullets penetrated the heart. He said they performed blood transfusions but were ultimately unable to stop the bleeding.

A press conference is currently being held at the Nara Medical University Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital say Shinzo Abe had no vital signs when he arrived at the hospital, but they performed resuscitation. “It was extremely serious, it was very serious,” the doctor said of his condition upon arrival. He had two neck wounds and a subcutaneous hemorrhage. Abe was confirmed dead at 5:03 p.m.

Shinzo Abe confirmed dead

Public broadcaster NHK reported that Shinzo Abe died after the shooting this morning, citing officials.

A senior Liberal Democrat official told NHK that Abe died in hospital where he was treated. He was 67 years old.

Japan has near-zero tolerance for gun ownership and one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the world, which makes the attack on Shinzo Abe particularly shocking.

My colleagues Cait Kelly and Justin McCurry have reviewed the nation’s gun laws and regulations. They write:

The path to gun ownership in Japan has 13 steps. First, potential gun owners must join a hunting or shooting club, then they must take a firearms course and pass a written exam, before asking a doctor to declare that they are mentally fit and have no history of drug addiction.

They must then apply to take a full-day course in how to shoot a gun and store it safely.

Police then interview potential gun owners about why they want a gun and conduct a thorough background check which involves interviewing the person’s family members, their relationships with neighbors , their work history and their financial situation.

If successful, they can then apply for a gunpowder permit and obtain a certificate from a dealer stating the type of gun they want. They must then purchase an ammunition locker and gun safe, which are inspected by the police, who then conduct another background check.

In 2013 the country hit an all-time high in gun crime – with 40 criminal firearms cases fired, but has been on a downward trend ever since – in 2020 there were 21 arrests for gun use fire, 12 of which were gang-related, Nikkei Asia reported.

Shinzo Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, has arrived in Nara, where her husband is being treated, according to Japanese media.

His brother, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, earlier said Abe was receiving blood transfusions, according to Reuters. He described the shooting as a sacrilege against democracy.

Read here the latest Guardian report on the shooting of Shinzo Abe, who is in critical condition after being shot while delivering a speech in the western city of Nara.

His successor, Fumio Kishida, called the shooting an unforgivable act and said he hoped Abe – the country’s longest-serving prime minister until he resigned in 2020 – would survive the attack.

More reactions from around the world to the shooting of Shinzo Abe. He was shot dead this morning while giving a campaign speech in Nara.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was “deeply shocked”.

“My thoughts are with him and his family,” he tweeted. “NATO stands with the people of our close partner, Japan.”

Deeply shocked by the heinous shooting of @AbeShinzo as he addressed voters. My thoughts are with him and his family. #NATO stands with the people of our close partner #Japan and PM @kishida230.

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) July 8, 2022

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described Abe as “a good friend from Singapore”.

“I am deeply shocked to learn that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot dead this morning in Nara Prefecture. It is a senseless act of violence,” he said in a Facebook post.

President of the European Council Charles Michel described Abe as “a true friend, fierce defender of the multilateral order and democratic values”.

Shocked and saddened by the cowardly attack on @AbeShinzo in the performance of his professional duties.

A true friend, fierce defender of the multilateral order and democratic values.

The EU stands with the people of 🇯🇵 and @kishida230 in these difficult times.

Deepest sympathies to his family.

—Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) July 8, 2022

The Russian Embassy in Japan said in a Facebook post: “We pray for the health of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe…We strongly condemn the barbaric attempt on his life.”

Airo Hino, a political science professor at Waseda University, told Reuters such a shooting was unprecedented in the country. “There has never been anything like this,” he said.

Japan has very low rates of gun crime and political violence is also rare, reports Reuters:

In 2007, the mayor of Nagasaki was shot dead by a yakuza gangster. The leader of Japan’s Socialist Party was assassinated during a speech in 1960 by a right-wing youth with a samurai shortsword.

High-ranking Japanese politicians are accompanied by armed security guards but often close in on the public, especially during political campaigns when they make roadside speeches and shake hands with passers-by.

Politicians around the world continue to react to the shooting of Shinzo Abe this morning.

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas
said such violence is “an attack on the very idea of ​​democracy”.

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Abe Shinzo’s murder.

Such violence is also an attack on the very idea of ​​democracy.

Our thoughts are with you, your loved ones and all the inhabitants of @Japan.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) July 8, 2022

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commissionurges Abe: “stay strong”.

Other leaders and politicians around the world have issued statements in response to the shooting this morning.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply distressed” by the attack and his thoughts and prayers were with Shinzo Abe, “his family and the Japanese people”.

Deeply saddened by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and the people of Japan.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022

Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand said she was “deeply shocked” by the news.

He was one of the first leaders I officially met when I became Prime Minister. He was deeply committed to his role, and also generous and kind. I remember him asking me after the recent loss of our pet when I met him, a small gesture but that speaks to the kind of person he is. My thoughts are with his wife and the Japanese people. Events like this shake us all to the core.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, said on Twitter that the government and people of Malaysia were “praying for his speedy recovery”.

Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said: “I extend my deepest sympathy and pray for his speedy recovery.”

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