Reports from Public broadcaster NHK, has confirmed that former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe died on Friday after being shot during a campaign speech on a street in central Japan.
The assassination of the former world leader in broad daylight has prompted an outpouring of support and condolences from the international community to a nation not used to gun violence.
During a press conference on Friday, doctors at the Nara Medical University hospital said, Abe died from excessive bleeding and was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m. local time.
The doctors said the bullet that killed the former Japanese leader was “deep enough to reach his heart” and a team of 20 medical professionals were unable to stop the bleeding.
The 67-year old was the former Liberal Democratic Party leader and Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, holding office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020, before resigning due to health reasons.
Since stepping down, he remained in the public eye and regularly appeared in the media to discuss current affairs.
At the time of the shooting, Abe was delivering a speech in support of LDP candidates in Nara city ahead of the upcoming Upper House elections scheduled for Sunday.