
A man looks at a television broadcast showing news of the attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022. (Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Japan's Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Assassinated on Campaign Trail
"I am greatly shocked to hear that former Prime Minister Abe was shot today," said a campaigner with 350 Japan. "Such violence is unacceptable."
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot Friday as he delivered a campaign speech on behalf of a member of his party just days ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.
Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was rushed to a hospital with wounds to his neck and left collarbone, apparently inflicted by a blast from a homemade shotgun. Hours later, news broke of Abe's passing.
Police arrested the suspected gunman on the scene. The Financial Times reported that authorities in Nara, where the shooting took place, "named the suspect as Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of the city, with no known occupation. According to the defense ministry, he served in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force from 2002 to 2005."
"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections--the very foundation of our democracy--and is absolutely unforgivable," said current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"I am greatly shocked to hear that former Prime Minister Abe was shot today," said Takayoshi Yokoyama, a climate campaigner with 350 Japan. "Such violence is unacceptable. 350 Japan condemns any forms of violence, and we seek solutions to the climate crisis through peaceful, non-violent citizen action."
The shooting prompted expressions of outrage and grief from world leaders.
Iran's Foreign Ministry dubbed the assassination "an act of terrorism" and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his "resounding condemnation of this cowardly attack."
" Spain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people in these difficult times," Sanchez wrote in a Twitter post.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot Friday as he delivered a campaign speech on behalf of a member of his party just days ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.
Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was rushed to a hospital with wounds to his neck and left collarbone, apparently inflicted by a blast from a homemade shotgun. Hours later, news broke of Abe's passing.
Police arrested the suspected gunman on the scene. The Financial Times reported that authorities in Nara, where the shooting took place, "named the suspect as Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of the city, with no known occupation. According to the defense ministry, he served in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force from 2002 to 2005."
"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections--the very foundation of our democracy--and is absolutely unforgivable," said current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"I am greatly shocked to hear that former Prime Minister Abe was shot today," said Takayoshi Yokoyama, a climate campaigner with 350 Japan. "Such violence is unacceptable. 350 Japan condemns any forms of violence, and we seek solutions to the climate crisis through peaceful, non-violent citizen action."
The shooting prompted expressions of outrage and grief from world leaders.
Iran's Foreign Ministry dubbed the assassination "an act of terrorism" and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his "resounding condemnation of this cowardly attack."
" Spain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people in these difficult times," Sanchez wrote in a Twitter post.
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot Friday as he delivered a campaign speech on behalf of a member of his party just days ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.
Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was rushed to a hospital with wounds to his neck and left collarbone, apparently inflicted by a blast from a homemade shotgun. Hours later, news broke of Abe's passing.
Police arrested the suspected gunman on the scene. The Financial Times reported that authorities in Nara, where the shooting took place, "named the suspect as Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of the city, with no known occupation. According to the defense ministry, he served in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force from 2002 to 2005."
"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections--the very foundation of our democracy--and is absolutely unforgivable," said current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"I am greatly shocked to hear that former Prime Minister Abe was shot today," said Takayoshi Yokoyama, a climate campaigner with 350 Japan. "Such violence is unacceptable. 350 Japan condemns any forms of violence, and we seek solutions to the climate crisis through peaceful, non-violent citizen action."
The shooting prompted expressions of outrage and grief from world leaders.
Iran's Foreign Ministry dubbed the assassination "an act of terrorism" and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his "resounding condemnation of this cowardly attack."
" Spain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people in these difficult times," Sanchez wrote in a Twitter post.

