Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan and was airlifted to a hospital, officials said.
A BBC report said, Abe was shot twice, with the second shot hitting him in the back, causing him to fall to the ground.
Ex-Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe said in a tweet that the 67-year-old Mr Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest.
“Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 local time (02:30 GMT) in Nara. One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody. The condition of former prime minister Abe is currently unknown.
“Whatever the reason, such a barbaric act can never be tolerated, and we strongly condemn it”, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
Local fire department official Makoto Morimoto said Abe was in cardio and pulmonary arrest, or CPA, after being shot, meaning he was not breathing and his heart stopped while he was being airlifted to a prefectural hospital.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that police arrested an alleged male attacker at the scene.
“A barbaric act like this is absolutely unforgivable, no matter what the reasons are, and we condemn it strongly”, Matsuno said.
In video posted to social media apparently showing the attack, at least two apparent gunshots were heard as a man who appeared to be Abe was speaking, and a white plume of smoke could be seen behind the former prime minister.
In other footage, campaign officials were surrounding Abe in an apparent attempt to treat the popular former leader, who is still influential in the governing Liberal Democratic Party, and heads its largest faction Seiwakai. Elections for Japan’s upper house, the less powerful chamber of its parliament, are Sunday.
The attack was a shock in a country that’s one of the world’s safest and with some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere.
U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emmanuel said on Twitter, “We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the U.S. The U.S. Government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, & people of Japan.”
The 67-year-old Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. He resigned in September 2020 due to health problems.
