Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was attacked on Friday during a rally in the city of Nara. The Japanese state broadcaster reported that Shinzo Abe died from his injuries and died in hospital.
Shinzo Abe was attending a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) campaign rally ahead of the July 10 parliamentary elections when gunshots rang out, state broadcaster NHK and the Kyodo news agency reported.
Abe, 67, was taken by ambulance to a hospital near Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
The former prime minister broke records for longevity as the country’s leader and withstood numerous political and financial scandals in which his family was involved. Abe stepped down as prime minister almost two years ago for health reasons.
The pragmatic nationalist was 52 when he first became head of government in 2006, the youngest in his country’s post-war history.
The Japanese government condemned the attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and said it was still gathering information about his health. “This barbarism cannot be tolerated, regardless of the reasons why a person acts, so we strongly condemn it and will do our best to help,” said Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno.
Matsuno did not provide further information about the health of Abe, who 911 said was in cardiac arrest when he was taken to the hospital.
US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said he was “saddened and shocked” by the attack. “We are all saddened and appalled by the attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was an outstanding leader of Japan and a staunch ally of the United States. The American government and people are praying for his well-being and that of his family. Japanese,” the statement said.
European Council President Charles Michel said he was “shocked and saddened by the cowardly attack” on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot during a campaign rally.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “saddened and dismayed” by the “heinous” attack, also in a Twitter post.
“Deeply concerned about the attack on my dear friend Abe,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and the Japanese people,” he added.
China’s foreign minister said the country was “shocked” by the attack on the former prime minister. “We are monitoring the development of the situation and hope that [Shinzo Abe] will be out of danger and will be able to recover quickly,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference in Beijing.
The same representative sent greetings to the family of Japan’s former conservative prime minister.
The suspect in the attack on the ex-premier is a former soldier of the Japanese army
The suspect in the attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a 41-year-old unemployed man and former navy, Japanese police said Friday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
