July 9, 2022 19:41
Japan was in a state of shock Saturday, the day after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead at an election rally in the western city of Nara, as police admitted there were “undeniable” security flaws.
The assassination of Abe, one of the archipelago’s most famous politicians who ruled the country for more than eight years, has sparked feelings of deep sadness in Japan and abroad.
The assailant, who was arrested at the scene, admitted that he had deliberately targeted Abe, explaining to police that he had been malicious against an organization he believed the former prime minister was linked to.
Japanese media said the 41-year-old assailant had previously joined the Maritime Self-Defense Force, meaning the Japanese navy, and used a weapon that “appears to be homemade” and is currently being examined.
At the time of the attack, the 67-year-old former prime minister was addressing a rally in Nara district ahead of Sunday’s upper house election, when gunfire was heard.
On Friday, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed that preparations for the elections, “the basis of democracy”, will continue as normal.
Kishida, who like Shinzo Abe belongs to the Liberal Democratic Party (national right), participated in an election rally Saturday morning in Yamanashi (west of Tokyo). “Violence cannot overcome the word,” he told about 600 people, according to the Mainichi daily.
“We will not let what happened yesterday happen again,” the newspaper quoted a member of the security forces as saying. He talked about an enhanced security system by installing metal detectors and inspecting participants’ bags.
On Friday, Aki, the widow of Shinzo Abe, boarded a car that media said was carrying the body of the former prime minister and left Kashihara Hospital near Nara, where doctors tried to rescue him after the attack.
Shinzo Abe was shot twice in the neck and was pronounced dead hours later despite the efforts of a team of twenty doctors.
And local media reported that a memorial service will take place on Monday evening, and the funeral will be held on Tuesday, in the presence of Abe’s family and relatives only.
Abe’s killing shook Japan. A large number of people have gathered since Friday at the site of the attack. “I can’t believe something like this could happen,” said Sashi Nagafuji, 54. “There should have been more security men,” she added.
Local LDP officials said they had received no threat prior to the attack, which was broadcast on television channels.
The former prime minister was standing on a podium when an explosion sounded like an explosion, followed by a billow of smoke. The shocked audience bowed, while several people were dealing with another person on the ground.
Security is sometimes lax at local rallies in Japan, where violent crime is rare and gun laws are strict, but police acknowledged that there were not enough security measures in Nara.
“I think it is undeniable that there are problems with security measures,” Tomoaki Onizuka, the Nara department’s police chief, told reporters.
“In my more than twenty-seven years in the profession, I have no greater remorse and greater regret than this,” he added in a quavering voice.
Shinzo Abe is the heir of a political family and the record holder for tenure as Prime Minister of Japan (2006-2007) and then again from 2012 to 2020.
Source: agencies
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