Japan ex-PM Shinzo Abe assassinated after gunshot attack

Picture courtesy: Reuters/BBC

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot while giving a speech in the western city of Nara. NHK aired footage showing Mr Abe, 67, collapsed in the street, with security guards running toward him.

Yamagami Tetsuya, the 41-year-old resident of Nara who fired the shots at Abe has been arrested. Mr Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech, causing him to fall to the ground.

Ex-Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe said in a tweet that the 67-year-old Mr Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. The term is often used before a death is officially confirmed in Japan.

Current prime minister Fumio Kishida said earlier "everything that can be done is being done to revive him" but Mr Abe is "currently in a grave condition".

Prominent voices across the world have been quick to condemn the incident.