Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shows no signs of life after he was reportedly shot and injured at a political event in the western Nara region, local media reported.
The former chief executive was delivering a campaign speech at a political event ahead of Sunday’s senatorial elections when gunshots were heard, national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo news agency reported.
Mr Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) told the Jiji news agency.
Contacted by AFP, neither the PLD nor the local police were able to confirm this information immediately.
Both NHK and Kyodo reported that Mr Abe was taken to hospital and appeared to be in cardiorespiratory arrest – a term used in Japan indicating no signs of life, and usually preceding an official death certificate.
Several media reported that he appeared to have been shot from behind, likely with a gun.
NHK reported that a man had been apprehended, but did not immediately provide further details.
Mr. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. He was in office in 2006 for one year, then again from 2012 to 2020.
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