Former Japan PM Abe dies after being shot at stump speech in Nara

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is dead after being shot on Friday while delivering a stump speech in the western city of Nara two days ahead of a national election, a ruling party source was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

Japan’s longest-serving leader was attacked by a 41-year-old man from behind at around 11:30 a.m. when he was speaking in front of Kintetsu Railway’s Yamato-Saidaiji Station, police said, adding he collapsed to the ground after two shots were heard. He was rushed to hospital with blood seen on his shirt.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has condemned the shooting of the 67-year-old former leader “in the strongest possible terms,” saying such a barbaric act should never be tolerated.

WAM