Japan’s ex-leader Shinzo Abe assassinated while giving speech

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died, according to Japan’s national broadcaster. Abe, 67, who remains Japan’s longest serving prime minister, was shot while giving a campaign speech.

The suspected attacker – reported to be a man in his 40s – was tackled at the scene and arrested. The current Japanese prime minister has condemned the shooting of Shinzo Abe, calling it an act of brutality.

Fumio Kishida said Abe, Japan’s longest service prime minister, led the country “with great leadership”, adding that he was “lost for words” after the assassination.

“I have great respect for the legacy Shinzo Abe left behind and I pay the deepest condolences to him,” Kishida said.

Kishida described Abe as a “personal friend” and someone he “spent a lot of time with”.

“I received valuable advice and support from Abe,” he said. The former PM was shot in the city of Nara while giving a speech ahead of Sunday’s Upper House elections.

Kishida added: “We must ensure a free and fair election is conducted safely and we must not let this incident impact daily governance.

“Under the resolve to never give in to violence, we will continue election campaigning tomorrow.”

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has collapsed after he was shot at an event in the city of Nara. Mr Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech, causing him to fall to the ground. His attacker has been arrested.

“Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30 local time (02:30 GMT) in Nara. One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody. The condition of former prime minister Abe is currently unknown,” chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.