The ex-leader participated in a political meeting in the Nara region when shots were tested. Led to the hospital, “it seems to be in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest”, according to the public television channel NHK.
Le Monde with AFP
The former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, led to the hospital after being apparently injured by shot during a political event in the Nara region (in the west of the country), presents no signs of life , reported the Japanese public television NHK.
The former executive chief delivered a campaign speech during a political event for the senatorial elections on Sunday, when shots were heard, said the national channel NHK and the agency Kyodo press. Mr. Abe, 67, collapsed and bleed from the neck, said a source from the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) in power at the Jiji news agency. Contacted by AFP, neither the PLD nor the local police were able to confirm this information immediately.
NHK and Kyodo both reported that Mr. Abe was taken to the hospital and seemed to be in cardio -respiratory arrest – a term used in Japan indicating the absence of a sign of life, and generally preceding a certificate of official death. Several media reported that he seemed to have been killed from behind, probably with a rifle.
A man was immediately apprehended. Citing police sources, NHK said the suspect seems to be around forty years old and that a weapon has been seized. Contacted by the France-Presse agency, the local police were unable to make declarations immediately.
m. Abe was the Japanese Prime Minister to have stayed the longest in power. He was stationed in 2006 for a year, then again from 2012 to 2020.