Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was attacked and ambulance was shot with a gun and cardiopulmonary arrest and domestic coverage|| japan news|| The Next Master

 Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was attacked and ambulance was shot with a gun and cardiopulmonary arrest and domestic coverage

July 8, 2022

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was attacked and collapsed during a street speech in Nara City around 11:30 am on the 8th. According to domestic media, he appears to have been shot with a gun and is in cardiopulmonary arrest.

According to domestic media such as NHK, Mr. Abe was shot from behind during a speech near Yamato-Saidaiji Station. According to police information, NHK reported that there were two shots and it seems that they were shot near the chest and neck.

Mr Abe was bleeding and collapsed and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. According to the fire department, it seems to be in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest.

Police arrested Tetsuya Yamagami, who lives in Nara City, on the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. He didn't show any signs of running away.

Police also allegedly confiscated the gun used by the suspect. There is also information that it was a handmade gun that was used.

NHK told police that Mr Abe was conscious and responded to the call when he was taken to the ambulance. He also reported that he had a gunshot wound and bleeding in his right cervical region and subcutaneous bleeding in his left chest, according to information from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hurriedly returned to his official residence from Yamagata Prefecture, where he was touring, and responded to reporters' interviews after 2:40 pm.

Mr. Kishida said, "I heard that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot in Nara prefecture before noon today and is in a serious situation right now. I am aware that hard emergency measures are being taken. I sincerely hope that the Prime Minister will survive. "

"We haven't fully understood the background of the crime. It's a sneaky brutality that took place during the elections that are the basis of democracy, and we can never forgive it. "Occasionally, I tried to choke my voice and sipped my nose.

In response to a reporter's question about political implications, "We are in the midst of hard lifesaving measures. We should not touch on the implications for future politics, and I think (about the implications). I haven't. "

Prior to this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who was interviewed by reporters on the afternoon of the same day, said, "Around 11:30 (am), former Prime Minister Abe was shot in Nara Prefecture. Abe's condition is currently unknown. "

"For whatever reason, this kind of barbarity is unacceptable and I categorically condemn it."

Witness testimony of "large firearms"

There are also eyewitness testimonies that Abe was shot from behind by a man with a large firearm.

NHK reported that a homemade gun seems to have been used.

Domestic media reported that Yamagami was a former Maritime Self-Defense Force member. According to NHK, Yamagami had been working for the Maritime Self-Defense Force for three years until around 2005.

In Japan, the sale and possession of firearms is severely restricted, and violent incidents using guns are rare.

There were only six gun deaths in Japan in 2014. In the United States, there were 33,599 cases in the same year.

Retired Prime Minister two years ago

Mr Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister and retired in 2020 for health reasons. He explained that he had relapsed ulcerative colitis.

During his tenure, he was known for his hawkish defense and diplomatic policies. He has also long urged him to amend the postwar pacifist constitution.

In addition, he promoted an economic policy called "Abenomics" centered on monetary easing, fiscal mobilization, and structural reform.

Yoshihide Suga, an ally of the Liberal Democratic Party, will replace him. After that, Fumio Kishida took over the post of prime minister.

Foreign government officials also blame

Voices blaming the case have also come from foreign government officials.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, "It's an attack on supporters of democracy."

Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel of the United States commented that Mr. Abe was "an excellent leader in Japan and an unwavering companion in the United States." The United States said he was "praying" for Mr. Abe's safety.