Former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, collapsed and showed no life signs after he was shot at while addressing a crowd in Nara prefecture on July 8, state media said in a report.
Reports said that a suspect was arrested.
According to state broadcaster NHK, the incident took place at around 11. 30 am (local time) near the Yamatosaidaiji Station in Nara city while the 67-year-old former leader was making a speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate’s election campaign.
The local fire department says that Abe is in “cardiopulmonary arrest” and is scheduled to be transferred by medevac to Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara City in the prefecture.
According to the BBC, the term “cardiopulmonary arrest” is often used before a death is officially confirmed in Japan.
The NHK report further said that a gunshot was heard on site and Shinzo Abe was seen bleeding.
Meanwhile, the police have said that Shinzo Abe appeared to have been shot from behind with a shotgun, the state broadcaster reported.
The male suspect, who appears to be in his 40s, has been arrested for allegedly attempting homicide and the police are interrogating him.
The police have said they seized a gun at the site which the man was apparently holding.
Abe had stepped down as prime minister in 2020 citing health reasons.
