MHMarkets :Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shot

The shooting in Nara, Japan, on Friday has put former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a critical state and the entire country is in limbo. Abe was shot and killed at around 11:30 a.m. local time while delivering a campaign speech on the streets of Nara city, east of Osaka. Two gunshots could be heard in a video of the incident broadcast by public broadcaster NHK. Abe suffered a gunshot wound to the right side of his neck, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Bureau of Tokyo's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. He was first taken to hospital by ambulance and then by medical helicopter. According to the Fire Department of Tokyo's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot in the right side of the neck. The agency said he was taken in an ambulance and then transferred to a hospital by a medical helicopter, where he is receiving emergency treatment. The local fire department in Nara received an emergency call at the scene around 11:31 a.m. local time.

Police arrested Tetsuya Yamagami, a Nara resident in her 40s, in connection with the shooting, NHK said, citing police sources. NHK reported that the man did not try to escape and is currently being questioned at the Nara West Police Station. He appears to have used a handcrafted gun, NHK reported. Footage of the incident showed police dropping the suspect near where Abe was standing shortly after the gunshots were heard.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference on Friday afternoon that the former leader is now in critical condition and is receiving emergency treatment from doctors to save his life. Abe was in cardiopulmonary arrest after falling to the ground, according to Nara City Fire Department officials. He was conscious and responsive when he was taken to the hospital, according to NHK, citing police.

Messages from world leaders past and present poured in, expressing condemnation of the shooting and good wishes for Abe. The US Secretary of State, the Australian Prime Minister, several former Australian Prime Ministers, the Indian Prime Minister, the British Prime Minister and the President of Taiwan all extended their best wishes to Abe.

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