Japan's Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Passes Away After Being Shot At During Poll Campaign

Former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe died after he was shot while addressing a gathering in Japan’s Nara city during an electoral campaign.

Shinzo Abe was addressing a gathering at the Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City when a person in his 40s named Yamagami Tetsuyo killed the former Japanese premier with a handmade pistol.

The hospital authorities at the Nara Medical University Hospital said that the former prime minister was treated for more than 4.5 hours but doctors were unable to save his life. He was bleeding profusely and blood transfusions were given to him but to no avail.

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The former prime minister’s attacker was caught by the police moments after the shots were fired. The incident occurred at around 11:30am (local time). Abe succumbed to his injuries at 5:03pm (local time)

“Shinzo Abe was transported to (the hospital) at 12:20 pm. He was in a state of cardiac arrest upon arrival. Resuscitation was administered. However, unfortunately he died at 5:03 pm,” Hidetada Fukushima, the hospital’s professor of emergency medicine was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

The Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency earlier said Abe suffered an injury to the right side of his neck due to the gunshot and there was internal bleeding in his chest.

Japanese news media outlets have identified the attacker as Tetsuya Yamagami, who is a resident of Nara and is in his 40s. He remains in police custody.

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Prime minister Fumio Kishida was also delivering a speech ahead of the Upper House election in Sagay City, Yamagata Prefecture but immediately left the location in his car upon being apprised of the news of the attack on Abe.

Kishida later provided an update on the health of his predecessor. “Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in critical condition after the attack. We do not have any information. This is barbaric, malicious and cannot be tolerated,” Kishida said.

He said his predecessor’s condition remains serious. Kishida expressed hope while speaking to the press: ‘Former PM Abe will overcome this.”

A news reporter from the NHK news agency said that the former prime minister was bleeding after being shot and was attacked by the man from behind his back, citing officials from the Liberal Democratic Party.

The reporter also said there were two bang-like sounds at the location where Abe was speaking following which the longest-serving Japan prime minister collapsed.

Japanese news agencies said he was taken to the hospital immediately. He suffered from a cardiac arrest shortly after being shot, news agencies reported.

News agency AFP reported that Abe was not showing vital signs at the hospital where he was taken after being shot sparking fears that he may have passed.

A medical emergency helicopter will soon transport Abe to the Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara City. Abe was conscious and responded to the medical team when he was being taken to the hospital.

(with inputs from NHK, Nikkei Asia, AFP and Japan Times)