Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in critical condition after he was shot while giving a speech in the western city of Nara, the country’s current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a press conference Friday morning.
Japanese broadcaster NHK said Abe collapsed while giving a campaign speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate at around 11:30 a.m. local time, ahead of an upper house election this weekend. Police said Abe appeared to have been shot from behind with a shotgun, according to NHK. POLITICO could not verify videos posted to social media purporting to show the incident.
The 67-year-old Abe was rushed to hospital but appears to show no vital signs, the local fire department told NHK. A reporter for the broadcaster said she heard what sounded like two gunshots and saw Abe bleeding.
“Doctors are doing everything they can at this moment” to save Abe, Kishida said, adding: “I sincerely hope that former Prime Minister Abe will survive.”
According to NHK, a male suspect “in his 40s” was detained at the scene.
Abe, a familiar figure on the global stage, was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister until he resigned in 2020, citing health issues.
European and world leaders have sent messages of support to their former long-time colleague.
“Dear @AbeShinzo, stay strong! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and the people of Japan,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
French president Emmanuel Macron said he was “profoundly shocked by the odious attack Shinzo Abe was a victim of,” sending “Thoughts to the family and the loved ones of a great prime minister.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, commenting on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ summit in Bali, said: “Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan.” He added: “This is a very, very sad moment. And we’re awaiting news from Japan.”
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, who is also in Bali for the G20, tweeted: “Profoundly shocked by the attack against @AbeShinzo. Our thoughts are with him and his family. The EU stands in full solidarity with Japan in these painful moments.”
“Absolutely shocked to learn that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot while delivering a campaign speech. I am thinking of him, his loved ones and everyone in #Japan on this dark day,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola tweeted.
European Council chief Charles Michel said he was “shocked and saddened” by the attack, calling Abe “a true friend, fierce defender of multilateral order & democratic values.”
Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “utterly appalled and saddened to hear about the despicable attack on Shinzo Abe.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan.”
This story is developing.