Abe Assassin "At First Tried to Make a Bomb... Made a Gun After Watching YouTube"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Yamgami Tetsuya (41), who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, initially intended to make a bomb rather than a gun.

According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun citing investigation officials, Yamgami stated, "At first, I tried to make a bomb, but I decided on a gun that could selectively kill a target, and I completed the gun around this spring."

Regarding why he chose a gun instead of a bomb, he reportedly said, "I stopped because bombs kill unrelated people as well."

After deciding to assassinate former Prime Minister Abe last fall, he spent several months making the gun at home. The gun Yamgami made is a shotgun that fires six rounds at once.

It is understood that Yamgami test-fired the homemade gun at a religious organization building he held a grudge against the day before the crime.

An investigation official explained, "Yamgami stated that on the 7th, the day before assassinating former Prime Minister Abe, he test-fired the homemade gun at a religious organization facility in Nara City."

Earlier, during police questioning, Yamgami mentioned the name of a specific religious organization and said, "My mother was a believer and donated a large amount, leading to bankruptcy," and "I was resentful and believed they must be punished," according to Yomiuri Shimbun. Yamgami initially targeted the leader of the religious organization but changed his assassination target to Abe when access became difficult.

According to Kyodo News, he stated, "I killed former Prime Minister Abe because I thought it was Abe's maternal grandfather, former Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke (1896?1987), who brought this religious organization to Japan."

Tokyo Shimbun reported that Yamgami told the police he made the gun used in the crime by referring to YouTube videos. The police said they believe Yamgami repeatedly made the gun by referencing the videos.