
New Delhi: In an incident that sent shockwaves across the globe, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot in the chest while he was canvassing for an upcoming Parliamentary election in Nara on Friday.
The Ex-Prime Minister was immediately rushed to the hospital and his condition is said to be critical. The security officials quickly overpowered and nabbed the shooter, however, the motive behind murderous attack is not yet known.
The shooter has been identified as Tetsuya Yamagami. He carried out the attack and shot at Abe from the back, using a shotgun. He could be seen in the video while Shinzo Abe was addressing the crowd outside a train station in Nara city. All of a sudden, he took out his handmade gun and fired 2 shots behind. According to Fuji TV, the shooter is a former member of Japanese Maritime Self-Defence force (Japanese Navy).
After the bullet pierced his back, the former Japanese PM collapsed and rushed to hospital. In the photo, Shinzo Abe can be seen lying face-up on the street with blood on his shirt.
安倍元首相 銃撃
事件の直前にNHKの記者が撮影した映像には、容疑者とみられる人物が、演説が始まるのを待っているようすが写っていました。https://t.co/Jli9oQDP43#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/XOKQsyy3Fe— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) July 8, 2022
Meanwhile, in a video released by NHK, the attacker can be seen roaming around the place where Abe was scheduled to give campaign speech. He was dressed in a grey T-shirt and was carrying black messenger bag.
In the video, the shooter could be seen getting cornered and caught by the security personnel.
According to police, the assassin had an intention to kill Shinzo Abe as the attacker claimed that he was dissatisfied with the former PM.
Shinzo Abe critical, doctors trying very hard to save him
An hour ago, the Japanese PM Fumio Kishida addressed the nation and informed that the doctors are trying very hard to resuscitate the former Prime Minister. He also said that Abe’s condition was “severe” but he hopes that the former leader will survive.
Abe Shooting and Arrest of Shooter pic.twitter.com/iFV6V67YXx
— SubX.News (@NewsSubstance) July 8, 2022
Shinzo Abe got grievously hurt as one of the bullets hit the right side of his neck, leaving him bleeding profusely.
According to reports, the shooter is believed to have made the gun himself.