The killing of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister during an election speech is “terribly disturbing” and calls for a push against growing violence and threats damaging democracy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Abe was killed on Friday on a street in western Japan by a gunman who opened fire on him from behind as he delivered a campaign speech — an attack that stunned the country that has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere. Abe, 67, collapsed bleeding and was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Nara, about 500 kilometers west of Tokyo. He was pronounced dead after massive blood transfusions, officials said. Trudeau, who sat with Abe at the G7 and G20 leaders’ tables from 2015 until Abe’s resignation in 2020, said Abe was “a great friend and partner of Canada.” “I’ve known Shinzo for many years,” Trudeau said. “He was a thoughtful, compassionate, strong leader who understood the importance of service, understood the importance of building a better world, better opportunities for his citizens.” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who attended the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Indonesia, said she expressed Canada’s condolences to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. Trudeau said the senseless death was made worse by the fact that it happened while Abe was on the campaign trail ahead of next week’s election for Japan’s upper house. He said everyone must recommit to the “values and principles of democracy” by allowing for wide debate and a diversity of perspectives, but without the threat of violence and intimidation. Security risks in Canadian politics have grown in recent years, most notably in the federal election campaign last fall, when the threat level against Trudeau rose so much, his security detail was greatly expanded. Conservative interim leader Candace Bergen said in a statement that Abe’s time in office “has been critical to strengthening Canada-Japan relations.” “His legacy is a commitment to regional prosperity and security, reflected in treaties such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which both Canada and Japan have signed,” he said. In a statement released by the White House, US President Joe Biden said he was “surprised, outraged and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed on the campaign trail.” . “While there are many details we do not yet know, we do know that violent attacks are never acceptable and that gun violence always leaves a deep scar on the communities affected by it,” Biden said. “The United States stands with Japan at this time of grief. I send my deepest condolences to his family.” The head of Nara Hidetada Fukushima Medical University’s emergency department said Abe suffered severe damage to his heart, along with two neck wounds that damaged an artery. He never regained his vital signs, Fukushima said. Prefectural police in Nara arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack and identified him as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, a former member of the Japanese navy. NHK broadcaster reported that he said he wanted to kill Abe because he had non-political grievances against him. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his ministers returned to Tokyo from campaign events across the country after the shooting, which he described as “senseless and barbaric”. He vowed that the election, which chooses members for Japan’s less powerful upper house of parliament, would go ahead as planned. “I use the harshest words to condemn (the act),” Kishida said, struggling to control his emotions. He said the government planned to review the security situation, but added that Abe had the highest level of protection. Although out of office, Abe still wields a lot of influence in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and heads its largest faction, the Seiwakai. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “events like this shake us all to the core”. “He was one of the first leaders I met formally when I became prime minister. He was deeply committed to his role, and also generous and kind. I remember him asking after the recent loss of our pet when I met him, a small gesture but one who speaks for the kind of person he is,” he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack on a “dear friend”. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called it a “senseless act of violence”. “Mr Abe is a good friend of Singapore. I had just hosted him for lunch in May during my visit to Tokyo. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Abe and his family,” Lee told the Facebook.
The killing of @AbeShinzo is incredibly shocking – and I am deeply saddened. The world has lost a great man of vision and Canada has lost a close friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Aki, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You will be missed my friend. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 8, 2022 This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 8, 2022. – With files from the Associated Press.
