Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Longest Serving PM, Shot At An Election Campaign In Nara; Shows No Vital Signs Of Recovery

Following an alleged shooting at a political gathering in the Nara region on Friday, local media reported that former Japanese prime leader Shinzo Abe was not breathing and was not responding to medical attention. According to national broadcaster NHK and the Kyodo news agency, the former leader was giving a campaign speech at the time the sounds of what appeared to be gunshots were heard. The event was held in advance of Sunday’s upper house elections. A source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency that he had collapsed and was bleeding from the neck.

Abe was reportedly rushed to the hospital and appeared to be in cardo-respiratory arrest, which is a term used in Japan to indicate the absence of vital signs and usually occurs before a coroner formally declares someone dead.

He appeared to have been shot from behind, maybe with a shotgun, according to a number of media outlets. There were no quick additional information provided by NHK, however it was stated that a man had been captured.

Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan, was shot in the western Nara region, the Japanese authorities confirmed on Friday.

“Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 am in Nara. One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody. The condition of former prime minister Abe is currently unknown,” chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

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