Former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians in modern times, has died after being shot at a campaign event, prompting shock and condemnation both in Japan and overseas.
A conservative nationalist by most descriptions, the 67-year-old remains the country’s longest-serving prime minister, having led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to victory twice.
His first stint as PM was brief – for a little over a year starting in 2006 – and marred in scandal. But he made a political comeback in 2012, and stayed in power until 2020 when he resigned for health reasons.
Abe stepped down then after weeks of speculation, revealing that he had suffered a relapse of ulcerative colitis – the intestinal disease had led to his resignation in 2007.
But as the son of former foreign minister Shintaro Abe, and grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, Abe belonged to political royalty and was still considered a powerful figure in Japanese politics.
He was known for his hawkish foreign policy and a signature economic strategy that popularly came to be known as “Abenomics”.
Shinzo Abe died in the hospital where he was receiving medical treatment, near to the attack in Nara, a senior Liberal Democratic Party official has said, public broadcaster NHK reports.
The former Japanese Prime Minister sustained wounds on the right side of his neck and left clavicle after being shot, Nara city Fire Department has confirmed.
Officials earlier said Abe was shot in the neck in chest, causing significant internal bleeding, and he is now receiving a blood transfusion in attempts to save his life, his brother said.
Abe was shot at a political campaign event in western Japan earlier while giving a speech, and has been described as being in “grave condition”.
Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman, and the 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.
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