Shinzo Abe is pictured above leaving with an ambulance. Photo: The Guardian
Shinzo Abe had been giving a campaign speech around 11 am in Japan when he was shot in Nara. Right now, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida relayed that the former PM is now in critical condition.
To date, there is no apparent motivation for the attack against Shinzo Abe. However, the suspect has expressed ‘frustration’ with Abe and ‘wanted to kill him’.
Thus far, the arrested suspect was part of the maritime self-defense force and is suspected to have created a homemade weapon that injured Shinzo Abe. Many have come forth to describe the attack as a heinous attack.
So far, some public figures and politicians from the US, Taiwan, and Australia have expressed their disgust with the current attack on Shinzo Abe and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Presently, Boris Johnson shared that he is “Utterly appalled and sad to hear about the despicable attack against Sinzo Abe.”
“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Thus far, there is a no-tolerance policy surrounding gun ownership in Japan which would make it fairly difficult to possess a gun. Some measures include taking a test to make sure you are fit to own a gun as well as exhaustive background checks.
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Right now, Prime Minister Kishida hopes that Shinzo Abe will survive this. Adding that doctors are doing everything they can to help the former prime minister.
“Currently doctors are doing everything they can, at this moment. I am hoping and praying that former prime minister Abe will survive this,”
In video footage obtained by The Guardian, the shooter is seen standing at close range to shoot at Sinzo Abe. Two witnesses described hearing one gunshot and seeing Abe collapse to the ground after the second shot was fired.