Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died this morning in Nara, Japan after being shot while making a campaign speech two days before the national election, Kyodo News reports.
Abe died after being rushed to Nara Medical University Hospital.
Authorities believe a 41-year old man shot him from behind as he spoke at the Kintetsu Railway’s Yamato-Saidaiji Station.
They later arrested Tetsuya Yamagani at the station on suspicion of attempted murder.
“It’s not a grudge against the political beliefs of former Prime Minister Abe,” police quoted Yamagani as saying.
The BBC reports Abe suffered two gunshot wounds and that security personnel tackled Yamagani who made no attempt to run.
“This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections – the very foundation of our democracy – and is absolutely unforgivable,” said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. “It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.”
Japan is known for its strict gun laws and the country has one of the lowest rates of gun crime in the world, CNN reports. In 2018, the United States reported 39,740 gun deaths compared to just nine in Japan.
Handguns are outlawed in Japan. The suspect appeared to use a homemade weapon in his attack.
The Japanese American Citizens League this morning issued the following statement.
“Like the rest of the world, JACL is shocked and saddened by the assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. We send our condolences to the people of Japan and especially his widow Ms. Abe Akie.”
The JACL praised Abe for working to ensure a strong relationship between Japan and the United States and recognized the importance of Japanese Americans in fortifying that relationship.
Abe will be remembered as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister after holding office in 2006 for a year and then again from 2012 to 2020. He resigned for health reasons.
He has remained a leader in the Liberal Democratic Party and was campaigning in support of LDP candidates when shot.
Kishida said he had a “great respect for the legacy (Abe) left behind” and would continue campaigning Saturday ahead of Sunday’s election.
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Karma !
Abe was a Denialist who wanted to revive the War Criminal Japan in which his War Criminal Granddaddy played such a prominent role.
His Granddaddy , Nobusuke Kisi, was the Economic leader of the illegal/illegitimate Puppet State of “Manchukuo” during the 1930’s in which millions of Manchurians/Chinese were exploited to DEATH.
Nobusuke was jailed after the War as a CLASS A War Criminal, the Highest & Most severe class ranking possible. BUT… Because of the Post WW2 ( Fear and Rise of ) COMMUNISM, Nobusuke was released from Suguma Prison, and enlisted in the fight to stop the Rise of COMMUNISM in postwar Japan; thereby he basically GOT AWAY with his Massive War Crimes…all in the name of Fighting ‘COMMUNISM’.
Nobusuke also signed the DECLARATION OF WAR Against the United States of America AFTER Japan’s Sneak Attack on America @ Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 07, 1941.
Abe, the rightfully assassinated, has been a Lifelong DENIER of Japan’s War Criminality, including War Criminal Japan’s Despoilment of China & East Asia, and War Criminal Japan’s DIRECT role in establishing the Sexual Slavery System throughout East Asia known as “The Comfort Women” .
Abe also worshipped @ the Yakasuni Shrine , which was built to GLORIFY War Criminal Japan’s Leaders who caused upwards of 50,000,000+ DEATHS in the Pacific Rim, and Hundreds of Millions of RAPES & GANG RAPES of the women who were unlucky to have lived in War Criminal Japan’s Area of Occupation.
Yesterday, was KARMA finally catching up to a PROUD Admirer of the Genocidal Rapists/Genocidal GANG RAPISTS whose Criminal Actions still have far reaching consequences on World Affairs to this very day.