Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Former Japan PM shot, feared dead

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Jul 2022 08:25
4 Min Read

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is feared dead after being shot on Friday at a campaign event in the Nara region, according to local media.

  • x
  • Former Japan PM shot and is feared dead.
    Former Japan PM shot and feared dead

Shinzo Abe, Japan's former Prime Minister, was shot during a campaign rally on Friday, according to a government official, while local media said the ex-leader was not breathing.

"Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 am," in the country's western region of Nara, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. "One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody. The condition of former prime minister Abe is currently unknown."

"Whatever the reason, such a barbaric act can never be tolerated, and we strongly condemn it," Matsuno added.

Local media, including NHK and the Kyodo news agency, said the former Prime Minister seemed to be in "cardiorespiratory arrest", a term commonly used in Japan before a suspected death can be officially certified by a coroner.

Read next: Japan Chooses Its New Prime Minister

The assassination of a man who may be Japan's most well-known politician occurs despite the country's well-known low levels of violent crime and strict weapons prohibitions.

Abe was giving a stump speech at an event before Sunday's upper house elections, and while security was present, viewers were able to approach him pretty readily.

NHK footage shows him standing on a stage when a loud boom is heard and smoke can be seen in the air. A man is then seen being tackled to the ground by security. "He was giving a speech and a man came from behind," a young woman at the scene told NHK.

"The first shot sounded like a toy. He didn't fall and there was a large bang. The second shot was more visible, you could see the spark and smoke," she added. "After the second shot, people surrounded him and gave him a cardiac massage."

Abe, 67, slumped and was bleeding from the neck, according to a source in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Related News

Klyuchevskoy volcano erupts hours after 8.8 quake in Kamchatka

Powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia’s Kamchatka

"What we can share now is that his transfer here has been completed," an official at Nara Medical University hospital told AFP, declining to comment on the former leader's condition.

'Saddened and shocked' 

According to several media outlets, he seemed to have been shot from behind. Local media outlet Jiji said the administration had organized a task force in the aftermath of the tragedy and that reactions were already pouring in.

NHK is broadcasting the moment that Japanese Former PM Shinzo Abe was shot from behind. Video does not show the shooter, just the puff of smoke. pic.twitter.com/4CNW1JTmvn

— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) July 8, 2022

"We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting of former prime minister Abe Shinzo," US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in a statement.

"The US government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, and people of Japan."

Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin, on his part, strongly condemned the "barbaric attack" on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Sputnik reported.

"We are praying for the health of former Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe. We strongly condemn the barbaric attack on him," Galuzin said in a statement posted on the Russian embassy's Twitter account.

According to Jiji, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's special advisor Gen Nakatani told reporters that "terror or violence can never be tolerated."

Read next: Citing US Alliance, Former Japan PM Warns China

Abe, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, served for one year in 2006 and again from 2012 to 2020 until being forced to resign due to the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis.

It is worth noting that Japan has some of the strictest gun-control regulations in the world, and yearly firearm deaths in the country of 125 million people are often in the single digits.

Even for Japanese nationals, obtaining a gun license is a lengthy and complicated process that requires a recommendation from a shooting association and extensive police checks.

  • Japan
  • Prime Minister
  • Shinzo Abe

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS