Updated: Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe dead after shooting

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe passed away in hospital after he was shot in Nara while delivering a speech ahead of a parliamentary election.

Abe was shot from behind by a man yet-to-be-named by the police.

Initial reports said shots were fired shortly before Abe fell ill and he was without vitals after arriving at the hospital.

According to NHK, the public broadcaster of Japan, Abe appeared to be bleeding from the chest after being shot with a shotgun on Friday morning.

Abe was the longest-serving prime minister of the nation until he resigned in 2020.

NHK only reported that a man had been detained; no other details were provided.

Abe had gone to the city of Nara to make a campaign speech ahead of this Sunday’s upper house elections.

East of Osaka is where Nara is situated. Abe was the prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.

Abe appeared to be having a cardiac arrest and wasn’t conscious, according to Kyodo News.

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