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Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has been hospitalized after getting shot with a “home-made” gun.
The 67-year-old veteran politician was delivering a speech near Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City Friday when he collapsed at around 11:30 a.m., Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.
A man had shot Abe from behind while the former head of state was campaigning for Japan’s Upper House election.
The incident resulted in Abe getting shot in the chest and neck, officials said, per The New York Post.
At least two gunshots were heard when Abe fell to the ground, footage of the attack shared by NHK showed.
Another supposed video of the shooting showed a puff of smoke appearing right behind Abe as he spoke in front of a crowd.
People gathered around Abe as he lay on the ground, with one person administering a heart massage, a photo published by Kyodo showed.
Abe was transported to Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara City via helicopter.
The former prime minister was initially conscious and responded while he was still in an ambulance, police officials said.
However, he later went into a cardiopulmonary arrest, per the local fire department, which meant his heart stopped and he was not breathing.
Abe is in grave condition, according to incumbent Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“Currently, doctors are doing everything they can. At this moment, I am hoping and praying that former P.M. Abe will survive this,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.
Police have arrested a suspect identified as 42-year-old Nara resident Tetsuya Yamagami following the shooting, according to NHK.
An image shared by The Japan News on Twitter showed what appeared to be security tackling Yamagami to the ground.
Authorities also retrieved a gun, said Matsuno.
The gun used in the shooting appeared to be “home-made,” according to NHK.
Yamagami, believed to be a former military man, allegedly told police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.
Fumio has condemned the shooting and called it an unacceptable attack on the foundation of Japan’s democracy.
Meanwhile, Matsuno said the incident was a “heinous,” “barbaric” and “malicious” act that “cannot be tolerated.”
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020
Photo: AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI
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