Shot around 11:30 AM during Narashi campaign
Transported with cardiac arrest... Pronounced dead at 5:03 PM
Japanese medical team: "Two gunshot wounds to the neck confirmed... Surgery performed but insufficient"
Prime Minister Kishida expresses "indescribable sorrow" and condolences
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during an election campaign on the 8th. He was 67 years old.
According to Japanese media such as NHK, the emergency medical staff in charge of treating former Prime Minister Abe at the Nara Prefectural Medical University Hospital in Nara City held a press conference around 6:15 p.m. that day and confirmed that Abe died at 5:03 p.m.
Former Prime Minister Abe was shot twice by a suspect from a few meters away while campaigning in support of the House of Councillors election in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, around 11:30 a.m. that day. Six minutes later, at 11:37 a.m., an ambulance arrived at the scene, performed emergency measures such as cardiac massage, and transported him by emergency vehicle. At the time of transport, he was in cardiopulmonary arrest with no breathing or heartbeat. According to firefighters, he had wounds and bleeding on the right side of his neck and subcutaneous bleeding on the left side of his chest.
The medical staff stated, "Former Prime Minister Abe had two gunshot wounds on the right side of his neck, and surgery was performed to stop the bleeding, but it was unsuccessful," adding, "Regrettably, his heartbeat did not return." Regarding the wound near the heart, they said it was "deep enough to reach the heart." The cause of death was massive bleeding. No bullets were found inside the body. One bullet passed through near the left shoulder.
The police arrested the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami (41), at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and are investigating. The gun he possessed was also confiscated. It is known that the gun was a modified ordinary firearm.
The suspect is a former Maritime Self-Defense Force member... "Had grievances and aimed to kill"
The suspect, Yamagami, is known to be a former member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force whose term ended in 2005. It is reported that he has no criminal record. According to NHK and Kyodo News, he told the police during the investigation that "he had grievances against former Prime Minister Abe and aimed to kill him, but it was not due to political beliefs." However, there are reports that he has been changing his statements during the investigation, causing confusion in the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the death of former Prime Minister Abe has shocked the Japanese archipelago. It is extremely rare for a former prime minister to be shot and killed just before an election in Japan, where firearms are prohibited.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a brief press conference at the Prime Minister's Office after the news of Abe's death and said, "We have lost a great politician. I sincerely pray for his repose."
He spoke of former Prime Minister Abe, saying, "He loved the country and was always one step ahead of the times, leaving great achievements in various fields to open the future of this country. We have lost a great politician. I want to firmly accept and inherit Abe’s thoughts and fulfill my responsibilities." He also expressed condolences, saying, "(He was) a fellow elected at the same time to the House of Representatives, a colleague after becoming a member of parliament, one of the ministers who supported the Abe Cabinet, and a good friend with whom I spent a lot of time."
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