Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's condition critical, says sitting PM Fumio Kishida
The Nara fire department had previously stated that Abe (67) was in cardiopulmonary arrest before being taken to the hospital.
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FollowShinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, is in critical condition after being shot at during an election campaign in Nara, western Japan, on Friday, as per the sitting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The Nara fire department had previously stated that Abe (67) was in cardiopulmonary arrest before being taken to the hospital.
Nara Fire Department officials said he was unconscious and showing no vital signs. Reports said he was shot from behind while giving a stump speech on the street near the Yamatosaidaiji Station in Nara. He was campaigning ahead of the election for the parliament's upper house scheduled for Sunday. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida has cancelled his campaign event and is rushing back to Tokyo after being apprised of the attack on Shinzo Abe.
"It is barbaric and malicious, and it cannot be tolerated. We will do everything in our power... Doctors are currently working tirelessly to save Mr Abe," said Kishida following the shooting. According to the news agency Reuters, he halted his election campaign and travelled to Tokyo from Sagae City in Yamagata Prefecture.
According to Reuters, the government said there were no plans to postpone the election, but most major parties suspended their campaigns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Shinzo Abe. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan," tweeted PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he was " deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Shinzo Abe. Thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the citizens of Japan," PM Modi tweeted.
Abe was photographed lying face-up on the street near a guardrail, blood on his white shirt. People were crowding around him, with one giving him a heart massage.
Tetsuya Yamagami (41), a Nara City resident, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for shooting at Abe, as per Japanese media house NHK, citing police sources. According to Fuji TV, he was a former member of the maritime self-defence force. He appears to have fired a shotgun at the former Prime Minister from behind. According to NHK, shots were fired, and a white puff of smoke was seen as Abe delivered a campaign stump speech outside a train station.
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