{"id":155447,"date":"2022-07-08T10:18:05","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T14:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=155447"},"modified":"2022-07-08T10:18:05","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T14:18:05","slug":"shinzo-abe-japan-ex-leader-assassinated-while-giving-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/shinzo-abe-japan-ex-leader-assassinated-while-giving-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Shinzo Abe: Japan ex-leader assassinated while giving speech"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died in hospital after he was shot at a political campaign event.<\/b><\/p>

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Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech on a street in the city of Nara on Friday morning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman and a 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.<\/p>

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The suspect, named as Tetsuya Yamagami, admitted shooting Abe with a homemade gun, and said he had a grudge against a “specific organisation”, police said.<\/p>

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Several other handmade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, had been confiscated after a search of the suspect’s house, police officers told a news conference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Explosives were also found at the home and police said they had advised residents to evacuate the area.<\/p>

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The suspected shooter told officers he had a grudge against a specific group he believed Abe was connected to, police said, adding that they were investigating why the former PM was targeted out of other people related to the group.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Asked by a member of the Japanese media whether the gunman’s intention was to kill Abe, police say only that Mr Yamagami admitted to shooting the former PM.<\/p>

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the attack, saying: “It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.”<\/p>

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This attack was “an act of brutality that happened during the elections – the very foundation of our democracy – and is absolutely unforgivable,” Mr Kishida said, speaking before Abe’s death was confirmed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck during the attack, and also suffered damage to his heart, doctors said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He was said to be conscious and responsive in the minutes after the attack, but the 67-year-old’s condition deteriorated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Doctors said no vital signs were detected by the time the former prime minister was transferred for treatment and he had to receive a blood transfusion in hospital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Eyewitnesses see man with large gun<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Abe was giving a speech for a political candidate at a road junction in the southern city of Nara when the attack happened.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Witnesses saw a man carrying what they described as a large gun fire twice at the former PM from behind. Abe fell to the ground as bystanders screamed in shock and disbelief.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Abe had a security team with him, but it appears the gunman was still able to get within a few metres of Mr Abe without any sort of checks or barrier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Photos circulating in the aftermath of the shooting showed the suspect standing just behind Mr Abe as he gave his speech.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"The<\/span>IMAGE SOURCE,<\/span>REUTERS<\/span><\/div>
Image caption,<\/span><\/p>\n
The improvised weapon lies on the ground after the alleged gunman was arrested<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Security officers dived onto the attacker, who made no attempt to run, and seized his weapon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Local reports say he is a former member of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan’s equivalent of a navy. He is said to have left active service in 2005.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Abe’s speech was part of a campaign for his former party, the Liberal Democratic Party, as upper house elections in Japan are due to take place later this week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ministers across the country were later reportedly told to return to Tokyo immediately.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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On Japanese social media, the hashtag “We want democracy, not violence” was trending, with many social media users expressing their horror and disgust about the incident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How the attack unfolded<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Shinzo<\/span>IMAGE SOURCE,<\/span>REUTERS<\/span><\/div>
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In a photograph taken moments before the attack, the alleged gunman can be seen standing behind Mr Abe in a grey t-shirt with a black bag<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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