July 8, 2022, 11:04 03
Updated 2 hours ago
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The prime suspect, 41, was immediately immobilized at the scene.
Two shots were fired before former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fell to the ground and was pronounced dead in hospital hours later.
The crime happened at a rally in the city of Nara, nearly 500 kilometers from Tokyo.
Immediately after the shooting, security forces neutralized the suspect to the ground, who is now in police custody.
Japan and the world are shocked by the crime that took place in a country where access to guns is extremely restricted and firearm deaths are very rare.
As a result, many are wondering who the prime suspect is, what his motives might be for attacking Abe, and how he got the murder weapon.
Possible former member of the Defense Forces
According to public broadcaster NHK, the suspect has been identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41yearold Nara resident.
Around 11:30 a.m. local time, footage shows the man in the gray Tshirt and brown pants approaching Abe from behind.
It fires at least twice, revealing a puff of smoke and terrified witnesses throwing themselves to the ground.
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The moment suspect is captured
According to witnesses, Abe fell, visibly bleeding, and received cardiac massage.
NHK reports that after his arrest, the suspect told police he was “frustrated with the former PM and was targeting Abe to kill him.”
He also reportedly told officials that he “held no grudges against the former prime minister’s political beliefs.”
According to local media reports, the suspect is a former member of the Japan Maritime SelfDefense Force, the Japanese equivalent of the Navy.
What weapon is used?
According to public broadcaster NHK, the suspect used a homemade weapon.
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Weapon suspected of being used against Abe
An unidentified weapon, which would match descriptions given by witnesses, was pictured on the ground after the attack, although police information on the matter is still lacking.
Police found several potentially explosive devices during a search of Yamagami’s home. Local media reports that bomb disposal experts are preparing a controlled explosion at the site.
How did he get the gun?
BBC Tokyo correspondent Rupert WingfieldHayes reports that the information available so far indicates the suspect appears to have manufactured his own weapon.
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Just before the shots were fired, the person could be seen directly behind Abe (to the right of the former Prime Minister, wearing a gray shirt and brown pants).
Abe had a security team. Despite this, the suspect appears to have managed to get within yards of the former prime minister without going through any sort of security barrier.
The attack on such an important figure is deeply shocking to a country that prides itself on its security.
The death of the former prime minister
After the attacks, Abe was taken to the hospital but did not survive.
The Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that Abe had a gunshot wound to the right side of his neck and that he suffered subcutaneous bleeding in the left part of his chest.
At a news conference, a doctor said the team spent four and a half hours treating Abe. He confirmed that Abe arrived with two wounds, one on the neck and large enough to reach the heart. None of the bullets were found during the operation.
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Shinzo Abe: The moment expremier is shot dead in Japan
The former prime minister reportedly had no vital signs when he arrived at hospital and suffered cardiac arrest at the scene.
Abe delivered a speech in support of candidate Kei Sato, a current member of the House of Lords and candidate for reelection in Nara.
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The crime rocks a country where violence against politicians and the use of firearms are extremely rare.
Restricted access to weapons
The process of legally owning a gun in Japan is extremely difficult.
While there are some exceptions, including for hunting, those who apply for a license are subject to psychological, drug use, and criminal background screening.
Also, anyone who wants to own a gun must attend a fullday training course, pass a written exam, and pass target practice.
In 2020, 32 deaths were attributed to firearms in Japan, according to the Small Arms Survey, which tracks such violent crimes around the world. Japan has approximately 125 million inhabitants.
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