Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is reported critical after being shot at while delivering a speech in western Japan on Friday, local media reported. The United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said that US is “saddened and shocked” by the shooting of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
“Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the United States,” Emanuel said in a statement as per news agency Reuters. “The U.S. government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, and the people of Japan.”
ALSO READ | On camera: How former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was attacked from behind
Abe was delivering a stump speech at an event ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections when the apparent sound of gunshots were heard, national broadcaster NHK and the Kyodo news agency said.
A suspect has also been arrested by the Japanese law enforcement agencies for attempt to murder, the report further added. The man appeared to be in his 40s and a gun had reportedly been confiscated.
Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency.
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On camera: How former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was attacked from behind
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at while he was making a speech on a street in Nara. As the speech was being live telecast, the video of the attack also surfaced. A man has been arrested for the attempted murder of the former prime minister. The gun has also been confiscated, reports said. According to a woman present at the scene, the man came from Abe’s behind and fired a shot.
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Man arrested for attempted murder after former Japan PM shot: Report
A man was arrested for attempted murder after former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was apparently shot on Friday while delivering a stump speech, local media reported. The man appeared to be in his 40s and a gun had been confiscated, said public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources. Local police were not immediately able to comment when contacted by AFP.
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Japan ex PM Shinzo Abe shot at during campaign speech, condition unknown: Report
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly collapsed in Nara, western Japan, and shots were heard in the vicinity. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Abe was seen bleeding and the reporter present at the site “heard something that sounded like a gunshot.” Abe was attacked by a man from behind while he was making a stump speech on a street in Nara on Friday, according to the Japan Times.
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