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Japan mourns ex-PM Shinzo Abe as police investigate fatal shooting - In pics

A steady stream of mourners visited the scene of the bloody assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe`s in the western city of Nara, while many others gathered at his residence in Tokyo to mourn the political leader. (Photo credits: Reuters)

Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe dies after being shot

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Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe dies after being shot

Shinzo Abe, 67, died on Friday morning after being shot from behind during an election campaign speech near a train station in the western prefecture of Nara. Abe was attacked in the city of Nara and airlifted to a local hospital but died of blood loss despite emergency treatment including massive blood transfusions. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, had stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons. He was prime minister of Japan twice, from 2006-07 and again from 2012-20. 

Who assassinated Shinzo Abe?

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Who assassinated Shinzo Abe?

Japanese Police have identified the suspect arrested for shooting former prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old resident of Nara City. Yamagami was arrested at the scene where he was wielding a homemade gun. He has denied he committed the crime because he was opposed to Abe's political beliefs, according to the police. He told police that he initially planned to attack a leader of a religious group, the Japanese media reported on Saturday. 

Japan mourns former PM

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Japan mourns former PM

A steady stream of mourners on Saturday visited the scene of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s assassination in the western city of Nara, an unusual act of political violence that has shocked the nation.

 

Mourners gather at Abe’s residence in Tokyo

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Mourners gather at Abe’s residence in Tokyo

Mourners gathered at his residence and at the scene of Friday's attack in the western city of Nara, where Japan's longest-serving modern leader was gunned down while making a campaign speech, a murder decried by the political establishment as an attack on democracy itself.

Japanese lay flowers at Abe’s photograph

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Japanese lay flowers at Abe’s photograph

Over 100 people were queuing to lay flowers at midday at a table featuring a photo of Abe giving a speech, with more arriving. Local officials were moving some of the offerings to create space.

Night vigil for Shinzo Abe

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Night vigil for Shinzo Abe

A night vigil will be held on Monday, with Abe`s funeral to take place on Tuesday, attended by close friends, Japanese media said. There was no immediate word on any public memorial service.

 

Shinzo Abe's assassination

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Shinzo Abe's assassination

Abe's assassination ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election shocked the nation and raised questions over whether security for the former prime minister was adequate.

Some interesting facts about Shinzo Abe

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Some interesting facts about Shinzo Abe

Abe became Japan's youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later, also because of his health. He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power, bolstering Japan's defense role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japan's international profile.