Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abewas attacked with a firearm during a campaign event in the Nara region and his condition is unknown, the government reported.
“Former Prime Minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 am (02:30 GMT) in Nara. A man who thinks he is the attacker is in custody”, Japanese chief of staff Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
He added that “Former Prime Minister Abe’s condition is unknown.”
“Whatever the reason, a barbaric act like this cannot be tolerated and we strongly condemn it,” said the chief of staff.
It was a shocking event for a country with a low level of criminal violence and harsh laws against the possession of weapons.
A man in his 40s was arrested. for attempted murder and a weapon would have been confiscated, the NHK public network reported, citing police sources.
Abe was making a campaign speech at a rally ahead of the upper legislative house elections on Sunday when gunshots were heard, NHK and the Kyodo news agency said.
“I was giving a speech and a man came from behind,” a young woman who was at the event told the NHK network.

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[…] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe, 67, is reported to be in serious condition following the shooting at a political campaign event in Nara city. Abe is the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history after leading the country from […]
[…] is not yet known what is behind this incident, but this is a barbaric act at a time of elections, which are the basis of democracy for which we […]