KEHINDE FAJOBI
Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe is dead after being shot while delivering a campaign speech on Friday in the city of Nara, western Japan.
Mr Abe was earlier rushed to the hospital and was said to be in critical condition after being shot by a lone attacker with what appears to be a crude improvised double-barreled weapon.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK later reported that Mr Abe had passed away.
The attack was caught on camera as the attacker, 41-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya, was seen lurking in the background earlier, before coming forward to shoot Mr Abe directly at his back while he was delivering his speech.
The attacker was instantly disarmed and arrested while security and paramedics attended to Mr Abe. The motive of the attack is yet unknown.
Shinzo Abe was Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister from 2012-2020, he was 67.