The accused admitted to the police that he intended to kill Shinzo Abe Kishida: We will never give in to violence, and we will continue the election campaign.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on Friday after a man with a rifle shot him from behind while he was giving a speech in the western city of Nara.
The authorities arrested a suspect.
And Japanese media had reported earlier that Abe did not show any vital signs after he was transferred to the hospital, where the national station “NHK” quoted a local fire department that Abe was suffering from the cessation of the function of the heart and respiratory system, a phrase used in Japan before the death was officially confirmed.
Police said the shooter said during the investigation that he was upset with Abe and had intended to kill him.
The suspect, who was reported to be a former member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, is being held by police.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the shooting of Shinzo Abe was unforgivable and condemned it “in the strongest terms” after it occurred during an election event.
“We will never give in to violence, and we will continue the electoral campaign tomorrow,” he added.
