According to Friday morning reports from the Japanese broadcaster NHK, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was declared dead shortly after being shot while giving a speech in the western city of Nara.
Prior to this weekend’s upper house election, NHK reported that Abe passed out at around 11:30 a.m. local time while making a campaign speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate. Medical experts from the Nara Medical University announced at a press conference that Abe was wounded in the neck and the heart and passed away from blood loss.
A broadcaster reporter reported seeing Abe bleeding and hearing what appeared to be two gunshots.
A male suspect “in his 40s” was apprehended on the spot, according to NHK. A gun that appeared to be handcrafted was discovered at the scene, police sources told the broadcaster.
Abe, a well-known figure on the international stage, served as Japan’s prime minister for the longest period of time before resigning in 2020, citing health concerns.
Before he was given the all-clear for death, European and global leaders sent their former longtime colleague supportive messages.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, wrote on Twitter, “A wonderful person, great democrat, and champion of the multilateral world order has passed away.” “The entire world is shocked by the brutal and cowardly murder of @AbeShinzo.”
Shinzo Abe was the victim of a “odious attack,” according to French President Emmanuel Macron, who also expressed his “thoughts to the family and the loved ones of a great prime minister.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock and sadness over Shinzo Abe’s fatal attack. His family, my colleague Fumio Kishida, and our Japanese friends have my sincere condolences.
In a statement made on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers summit in Bali, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, with his family, and with the people of Japan.” “This is a very, very sad moment,” he continued.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat who is also attending the G20 summit in Bali, issued the following statement: “I am appalled by the tragic news… The European Union has lost a friend today who had contributed to the important work being done by Prime Minister Kishida to further develop and solidify bilateral ties in all spheres.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, expressed her shock and sadness over the murder of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at a political gathering in Nara.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, expressed his deep sorrow upon learning of @AbeShinzo’s passing. “I’ll never be able to comprehend the brutal murder of this great man.”
Boris Johnson, the outgoing British prime minister, expressed his shock and sadness over Shinzo Abe’s vile attack. He later added, “Many will remember his global leadership through uncharted times.
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, expressed his deep distress over the attack on his close friend Abe Shinzo. We are sending him, his family, and the people of Japan our thoughts and prayers. After learning of Abe’s passing, Modi declared July 9 to be a day of national mourning in India.
