Former Japanese Prime Minister (PM), Shinzo Abe, who was shot while delivering a campaign speech, has died, according to local media report.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Abe, 67, was shot while giving a campaign speech in Nara, Japan.
He was Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister. He served from 2006 to 2007 and then again from 2012 to 2020, before stepping down due to chronic health issues.
Abe was in the middle of a speech on the street when he was shot. Witnesses heard two loud bangs accompanied by smoke that confused the scene. Abe reportedly suffered bullet wounds, local reports say.
Meanwhile, the police in Japan have arrested one suspect and kept in custody. The suspect is a 41-year old local man. Defense sources say he worked for the Maritime Self Defense Force for three years until around 2005.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, according to NHK. A weapon, described as a shotgun, was recovered at the scene.
TNG reports Abe’s funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.