HOMEMADE GUN KILLS FORMER PM
■ Horror as ex-leader of Japan shot during speech ■ Navy veteran, 41, hauled to ground as he tried to flee
A BESPECTACLED assassin lurks behind Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe yesterday – moments before shooting him with a homemade gun.
Killer Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, appeared harmless, standing yards behind Japan’s longest-serving and bestknown PM, 67, as he gave an election campaign speech on a busy street.
But the twisted navy veteran then opened fire and Mr Abe collapsed in a pool of blood. He was given CPR at the scene and was airlifted to hospital in a helicopter but he could not be saved.
Yamagami was wrestled to the ground by protection officers and made no attempt to resist arrest. Police said he confessed to the killing, saying he was ‘frustrated’ with Mr Abe but his grudge was ‘unrelated to politics’. He fired at least twice, with the first shot appearing to miss.
Bomb-squad officers who later searched the loner’s apartment found an arsenal of homemade weapons and explosives.
Mr Abe was lending his support to a candidate from his Liberal Democratic Party ahead of elections in the city of Nara.
Footage showed the ex-PM smiling in a blue suit and greeting a crowd outside the city’s railway station. Standing on a soapbox to address them, Mr Abe was only a few seconds into his speech when Yamagami stepped out from behind a banner.
In a grey T-shirt and khaki trousers, and wearing a Covid mask, he pulled out of his shoulder bag a DIY shotgun made from two pieces of pipe taped to a wooden board. After the first shot missed, Mr Abe’s bodyguards realised agonisingly late that he was under attack. He remained on the soapbox as panicked guards tried to put themselves between the statesman and his killer. One desperately held up a briefcase in an attempt to stop the second shot.
A confused Mr Abe turned around and may have caught sight of his assassin before the fatal blast. He clutched his chest as blood spread across his white shirt and gushed from neck wounds. He collapsed to his knees before slumping over.
As pandemonium broke out in the crowd, bodyguards charged down the gunman, knocking him to the ground.
Unemployed Yamagami is a former member of the maritime self-defence force, who served from 2002 to 2005. He is said to have later told police he believed Mr Abe had been part of a ‘specific organisation’ which he had a grudge against, but officers did not reveal the name of the group.
Desperate efforts were made to save Mr Abe’s life. He was still bleeding profusely when he arrived at hospital. Medics gave him ‘a lot of blood transfusions’.
A team of 20 doctors worked in vain and Mr Abe was pronounced dead shortly after 5pm local time (9am UK time). His devastated wife Akie was at his bedside.
Hospital chief Hidetada Fukushima said Mr Abe had suffered major damage to his heart in addition to the neck wounds.
Stunned Japan was immediately plunged into mourning. The Queen sent a message of condolence to the Emperor of Japan, saying she was ‘deeply saddened’ and Boris Johnson was among world leaders expressing their shock.
Mr Abe was a towering figure in Japanese politics, serving as the country’s youngest prime minister from 2006 to 2007, and then again from 2012 until poor health forced him to resign in 2020.
His tenure was marked with headlinegrabbing moments, including having a 19-second handshake with former US pres
‘Attacker had grudge against Abe group’
ident Donald Trump. Japan, which prides itself on low violence and has extremely strict gun laws, was in a state of shock last night.
Current prime minister Fumio Kishida, 64, branded the shooting ‘dastardly and barbaric’.
struggling to control his emotions, Mr Kishida pledged a review of security, but added Mr Abe already had the highest protection. There was a growing sea of floral tributes at the spot where he was attacked as traumatised people came to pay their respects.
In her message, the Queen said: ‘I have fond memories of meeting Mr Abe and his wife during their visit to the United Kingdom in 2016.
‘His love for Japan and his desire to forge ever-closer bonds with the United Kingdom were clear.
‘I wish to convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and to the people of Japan at this difficult time.’ Mr Johnson told the Japanese people: ‘The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.’
He said: ‘His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people.’
Former PM Theresa May tweeted: ‘Truly heartbreaking to hear of the death of my friend... killed in the most appalling of circumstances.’
Foreign secretary Liz Truss added: ‘A tragic loss of a great figure who helped transform Japan and forge even closer bonds with the UK.’
Despite the shocking assassination, Japan has some of the lowest murder rates in the world. Gun crime is extremely rare even though the country is plagued by violent Yakuza gangs.
Japan, which has a population of 125million, suffers fewer than ten gunrelated deaths each year and recorded just three in 2017. Legally buying a firearm involves 13 strict steps.