Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe reportedly shot, is in heart failure - POLITICO
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Japan’s former PM Shinzo Abe reportedly shot, is in heart failure

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in Nara.

Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media as he arrives at the prime minister's office for a cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2020.

Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media as he arrives at the prime minister's office for a cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2020. Japan’s NHK TV said on Friday that former Prime Minister Abe apparently was shot at and collapsed during a campaign speech. | Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

By Associated Press

TOKYO — Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in heart failure after apparently being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, NHK public television said Friday.

The broadcaster aired footage showing Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him. Abe was holding his chest when he collapsed, with his shirt smeared with blood. NHK says Abe was rushed to a hospital.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in Nara. He was standing while making an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday’s election for the parliament’s upper house.

Police arrested a male suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, NHK said.