Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe passes away after being shot

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed away on Friday after being shot. He was, Japan's former and longest-serving Prime Minister, assassinated at a campaign address in western Japan on Friday. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, but he was not breathing and his heart had stopped, according to reports. Meanwhile, one individual has been arrested, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsunoa and has been identified as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami.

The Japanese leader was campaigning as his protege, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, prepares for an upper house election on Sunday in which he aims to escape from Abe's shadow and define his premiership. Abe was Japan's longest-lasting prime minister, serving two terms before stepping down in 2020 due to bad health. He has, nevertheless, remained a strong figure in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), commanding one of its key groups.

Also Read | Who was Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving Japanese PM?

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday that he was "very saddened" and "shocked" beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe.

"During my recent visit to Japan, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Abe again and discuss many issues. He was witty and insightful as always. Little did I know that this would be our last meeting," he added.

Also Read | Ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe shot at during public speech

Japan has among of the strictest gun-control regulations in the world, and yearly firearm fatalities in the country of 125 million people are often in the single digits. Even for Japanese nationals, obtaining a gun licence is a lengthy and difficult procedure that requires a recommendation from a shooting group and extensive police inspections. 

• Japan
• PM Modi
• Shinzo Abe
• Shinzo Abe dead
• Shinzo Abe passes away
• gun control
• shot dead
• Tetsuya Yamagami