Abe gave a speech at a rally ahead of the Senate election to be held on Sunday when shots were heard, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK and Kyodo news agency. Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from his neck, a source from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) told the Jiji news agency. He was also said to have been hit in his left chest.
Prime Minister Kishida says in a press conference that he hopes and prays that Abe survives the attack. “He is in a very serious condition. At the moment doctors are doing everything they can.’ Japanese media also write that Abe no longer shows signs of life.
A reporter for the Japanese broadcaster NHK reports that two gunshots could have been heard during the speech by the ex-government head. According to Kyodo News, Abe is unconscious and appears to be in “cardiac arrest.” This term is often used in Japan when a patient appears to have died.
The Japanese government has confirmed that Abe was shot, but said his condition is unknown.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has now aborted his election campaign and is on his way to the capital Tokyo, media reports. His government has formed a crisis team. According to Jiji, Kishiada will give a speech at 07:30 (Dutch time).
US: ‘Sad and shocked’
US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said he was “sad and shocked” by the shooting of Abe. “Abe has been an outstanding leader of Japan and a staunch ally of the United States. The American government and the American people are praying for the well-being of Abe, his family and the people of Japan.”
According to the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun the man arrested is a 41-year-old resident of Nara. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He allegedly fired at Abe from close range. A weapon has since been found.
Health issues
Abe was Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. At the end of August 2020, he announced his resignation due to health problems. He was Japan’s longest-serving post-war prime minister at the time.
Abe said at the press conference at which he announced his resignation that he could no longer do his job optimally due to intestinal complaints. Abe has been suffering from chronic intestinal inflammation for years. Not long before his resignation, he had been hospitalized for the second time in a short time for examination.
Youngest post-war prime minister
In 2006, aged 52, Abe became Japan’s youngest prime minister since World War II. A year later, he unexpectedly resigned, partly because his popularity figures had plummeted. Later, Abe said his health problems had played a role.
Four years later, he made a glorious comeback by regaining the party leadership. After that, he did not lose a single election, partly because he made clever use of the right to call by-elections. When his popularity ratings were high, or when the left-wing opposition was once again hopelessly divided, Abe felt free to call Japanese voters to the polls for a fresh mandate. He won the elections in 2018 with force majeure.
