Tokyo

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at as he was addressing a crowd in Nara prefecture on Friday, state broadcaster NHK reported. 

Police in Japan has arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder and retrieved a gun from where former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot in the city of Nara in western Japan.

Abe has been sent to a hospital. The fire department says that former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is showing no vital signs. 

The incident has sent shcokwaves across the country that is known for peace and low crime.

Police sources say he was likely hit from behind by shotgun fire.

Second video shows the attempted assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

NOTE: Video not graphic, but viewer discretion is advised pic.twitter.com/BZNGHP78ds

— BNO News (@BNONews) July 8, 2022

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno says he does not know Abe’s condition yet.

PM Kishida abruptly left his campaigning and is now heading back to Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the Indian twitterati has flooded the platforms with reminiscence messages and how grieved they are at this unprecedented misdemeanour.

The tweets also include the likes of PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi 

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022

Shocked to hear the news of the attack on former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who has been instrumental in deepening Indo-Japanese ties.

Prayers for his recovery. My thoughts are with his family.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 8, 2022

White house issued a statement saying. "We are shocked and saddened to hear about the violent attack against former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. We are closely monitoring the reports and keeping our thoughts with his family and the people of Japan" 

Shinzo Abe visited India in 2014, 2015, 2017. PM Modi visited Japan on 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022.

Pic: Abe in Gujarat, 2017 https://t.co/cgMSjliv5Q pic.twitter.com/TEFs1al5vj

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 8, 2022

How Shinzo Abe Changed Asia:
--Key architect of Quad, proposed it first
--Key supporter & promoter of Indo Pacific
--Made India & Japan closer partners

Pic: Abe addressing Indian Parliament in 2007 wr he emphasized on links between Indian & Pacific Ocean
(ctsy: I&B ministry) https://t.co/sGl20X5py4 pic.twitter.com/1gU84xAZtm

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 8, 2022

Daily Mail, a newsagency from UK has posted a picture of the shotgun used saying it appears a homemade firearm.

Political violence is rare in Japan, a country with strict gun regulations. The gun used in the shooting of Shinzo Abe appeared to be a home-made firearm https://t.co/7yj5STgXit pic.twitter.com/PrxnqviU7G

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 8, 2022