Japan in Shock After Fatal Shooting of Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo – The Diplomat

On the eve of Japan’s higher home election, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot and killed whereas giving a public speech for a ruling Liberal Democratic Occasion (LDP) candidate within the western metropolis of Nara, Japan. In line with Japanese media, Abe, 67, was shot twice within the again with a “handmade” shotgun and misplaced consciousness within the ambulance. He was pronounced lifeless shortly after 5 p.m., native time.

The suspect, who’s in police custody, is believed to be a former Japan Self-Protection Forces member who was allegedly “dissatisfied” with Abe.

The assault, simply two days earlier than polls open, has despatched shockwaves operating via Japan, a rustic that has earned a fame for low crime and peaceable elections. Mourners have begun to put flowers on the website of the assault.

World leaders reacted to the assault on social media. U.S. President Joe Biden, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz additionally expressed their condolences.

In a televised press convention Prime Minister Kishida Fumio condemned the assault as “barbaric and malicious,” saying it “can’t be tolerated.”

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Abe’s former overseas minister, Kono Taro, tweeted that the “LDP is not going to be deterred by violence and can proceed its election marketing campaign till the tip.”

The assault has sparked nervousness over public security as residents head to the polls over the weekend. There are additionally issues over the shortage of safety for political candidates on the marketing campaign path. In Japan safety at marketing campaign occasions is just about non-existent – as are incidents of gun violence, particularly in comparison with the USA. Abe is believed to have had a safety element current, which didn’t stop the assault.

Abe holds the title as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. After eight consecutive years within the submit, he stepped down within the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, citing worsening well being in August 2020. Abe was succeeded first by shut ally Suga Yoshihide after which by Kishida in October final 12 months. Abe has remained a distinguished member of the ruling LDP and held appreciable affect, even after his resignation.

Beneath Abe’s management between 2012 and 2020, Japan’s unemployment charge fell to its lowest stage in a long time. He’s additionally credited for including some 2 million ladies to the labor drive and used the funds from the consumption tax hike to develop daycare amenities and canopy widening gaps in Japan’s social safety system.

Gun crime may be very uncommon in Japan. In a inhabitants of 126 million there have been solely 10 incidents of gun associated crimes and one recorded dying final 12 months. The taking pictures begs the query as to how concrete insurance policies will be applied to stop one other such assault, particularly because the killer reportedly made his personal weapon slightly than buying one.

Japan already has strict legal guidelines on non-public gun possession. Civilians are banned from proudly owning weapons, however exceptions are made for sport and looking. Even then, gun possession entails a rigorous software course of that entails 13 steps in complete. Candidates should move a written examination in addition to bodily and psychological well being evaluations. They have to take classes on easy methods to use a gun and retailer it safely. Police additionally conduct thorough background checks and name household, neighbors, and buddies for character references.

Nara is a former historic capital of Japan, and its mountainous rural panorama is house to well-known shrines and temples and a few 1,300 deer. Earlier than the pandemic it was often called a vacationer hotspot, however the surprising assassination of Japan’s most well-known politician will inevitably forged a shadow on the often peaceable city.