Fmr. Japanese PM Abe confirmed dead after being shot; PM Kishida, Taiwan president, others condemns attack

A senior Liberal Democratic Party official says former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has died in a hospital where he was receiving treatment.

Japan’s longest-serving prime minister was shot in the chest and neck on the street in Nara City, western Japan while on a campaign trail to support one of the candidates for the upcoming Upper House election.

He was shot at around 11:30 a.m. on Friday by a middle-aged man identified as a former member of the Japanese navy who was arrested at the scene. He told the local police that he had crude dissatisfaction with the former PM.

Police say they have arrested a 41-year-old man for attempted murder. Defense Ministry sources say he worked for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for three years up to 2005.

He was immediately flown to a medical facility and doctors worked for more than four hours to save his life.

An NHK reporter on-site heard what sounded like two gunshots at around 11:30 a.m. She saw Abe collapse and bleed before he was taken to the hospital.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has strongly condemned the shooting attack on the 67 years former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

Tsai wrote on her Facebook account on Friday that she hopes Abe will be out of critical condition as soon as possible and is praying for news of his safety.

She called Abe a staunch friend of Taiwan and said he has supported Taiwan for many years. She said he spared no effort to promote ties between Taiwan and Japan.

Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te wrote on Twitter in Japanese that he is praying for Abe and hopes he will pull through.

Other leaders in Taiwan, including the legislative speaker, premier, and head of the main opposition party, issued messages praying for Abe’s safety.

Before confirming his death, Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had condemned the attack on former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo “in the strongest possible terms.”

Kishida spoke to reporters at the prime minister’s office on Friday, about 4 hours after the shooting. He had flown back from the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata, where he was campaigning ahead of Sunday’s Upper House election.

Kishida said Abe is in serious condition after being shot while stumping in Nara Prefecture. He added that urgent lifesaving efforts are underway and that he is praying from the bottom of his heart that Abe will survive.

Kishida said, “The despicable, barbaric act took place when the country is staging an election — the foundation of democracy — and is totally unacceptable.”

He also said all Cabinet ministers will be asked to return to Tokyo to share and confirm the facts and the government’s response.

Kishida said nothing has been decided on election-related schedules, and that he will respond appropriately after fully grasping the situation.

He added that he believes it is extremely important to find out the background of the incident since not much is known about the suspect or other details.