The 67-year-old was bleeding to death after suffering two deep neck wounds, a doctor from Nara Medical University Hospital said. He had no vital signs on arrival and one wound was deep enough to reach his heart, the doctor added. Blood transfusions were given as doctors fought to save his life. The background of Abe’s suspected killer is revealed – live updates Mr Abe was shot in the back with what appeared to be an improvised weapon. It is the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese prime minister since the 1930s. Mr. Abe clutched his chest as he collapsed, his shirt stained with blood. State broadcaster NHK showed footage of security guards running towards him. A puff of white smoke was seen as he made a campaign speech outside a train station ahead of Japan’s upper house election on Sunday. A journalist at the scene said they heard two consecutive bangs during Mr Abe’s speech. His death was also confirmed by a source in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Reuters reported. Image: A man believed to be a suspect is being held by police. Photo: AP A 41-year-old man, Yamagami Tetsuya, was arrested. He is said to live in the city of Nara and possible explosives have been found at his home, NHK reported. The suspect told officers he was unhappy with Mr Abe and intended to kill him, NHK reported. However, Kyodo News said the man was not motivated by a grudge against Mr Abe’s political beliefs. The suspect is also reported to have served in the Japanese navy. Earlier, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that while “everything that can be done” was being done, Mr Abe was in “serious condition”. Mr Kishida added that the “act of brutality” was “absolutely inexcusable”. He asked all cabinet members to return to Tokyo. The prime minister said that free and fair elections are something that must be defended at all costs and that election campaigning will continue on Saturday. Mr Kishida said he had great respect for Mr Abe’s legacy. “Absolutely inexcusable, regardless of the reasons” Political violence is rare in Japan, which has strict gun regulations. In a country of 125 million people there were only 10 gun-related crimes last year, resulting in one death and four injuries, according to police. The majority of these cases – eight – involved gangs. “A barbaric act like this is absolutely inexcusable, regardless of what the reasons are, and we strongly condemn it,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Image: Mr Abe pictured in Tokyo in December 2020 Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Abe’s death was “incredibly sad news”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Abe was “a wonderful person, a great democrat and a champion of the multilateral world order”. Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “truly dark day”, while former prime minister David Cameron said he was “distressed to hear the appalling news from Japan this morning about the horrific attack on his friend and former colleague My Shinzo Abe.” Abe served two terms as prime minister – becoming Japan’s longest-serving prime minister – before stepping down in 2020, saying a chronic health problem had resurfaced. He suffered from ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager. He remained a dominant presence in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, controlling one of its main factions.
