Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan, has passed away, according to news agency Reuters, which cited Japanese media outlet NHK. Abe was shot at while running for office in Nara city in western Japan. Prior to being transported to the hospital, the 67-year-old Abe was in cardiac arrest, according to the Nara fire department. They said that he had suffered injuries to the left clavicle and the right side of his neck. Akie, the wife of Abe, has arrived at the hospital, according to Japanese media
According to police sources cited by the Japanese media outlet NHK, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, who is thought to reside in Nara City, has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly shooting Abe. He reportedly used to be in the maritime self-defense force and shot at the former prime minister from behind with what looked to be a handmade gun. It has not yet been determined why the attack occurred.
“I find it difficult to believe that Shinzo Abe is no more. He was a great statesman, & his infectious affability endeared him the world over. That he fell prey to an assassin’s bullet is a tragedy for the whole humanity. My heartfelt condolences to his family and people of Japan,” President Ram Nath Kovind said
“The former Prime Minister was brought into the hospital at 12:20 pm. The situation we were dealing with was a cardio pulmonary arrest. We tried to resuscitate but he was pronounced dead at 5:03 pm,” the staff at Nara Medical University Hospital said.
Earlier, PM Modi expressed his great grief about the attack on Abe. In televised footage, security personnel can be seen rushing toward Abe as he collapses in the street. The 67-year-old world leader was then seen grabbing his chest as he fell to the ground while wearing a shirt stained with blood.
