Ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot during campaign event, shows no vital signs

Tokyo, July 8: Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan, was shot at by an unidentified man and collapsed during a speech in the city of Nara, Japan. Japan's leading news agency Kyodo News citing local authorities reported that PM Abe was unconscious and appeared to be showing no vital signs.

 

 

Local media reported adding that police has seized the attacker at around 11.30 am. AA 41-year-old man Tetsuya Yamagami, believed to be a resident of Nara City, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for shooting at Shinzo Abe, reported Japanese media house NHK quoting police sources. It added that Abe was likely hit from behind by shotgun fire.

 

Abe has been hit towards the left of his chest as multiple shots were fired by the attacker, reported Reuters, quoting TBS. One appears to have hit the former PM in the neck. 

 

 

According to initial reports from Japanese public broadcaster, NHK, Shinzo Abe may have been possibly shot in the chest. A local reporter on-site heard something that sounded like a gunshot. The reporter also saw Abe bleeding, media reports said.

 

Abe Shinzo, a Japanese politician, became prime minister of Japan twice, from 2006-07 and again from 2012-20.