The Assassination Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Former Prime Minister

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while giving a campaign speech in Western Japan on Friday. Abe was the longest-serving Prime Minister and was adored by not only Japan but the rest of the world. Multiple military sources confirmed that there is a suspect who was previously employed in Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force which ended in 2005 due to unconfirmed reasons.

The weapon the suspect used on Abe was confirmed to be a homemade weapon. The attack was one of shock as Japan is known as one of the safest countries with some of the strictest gun laws compared to anywhere else. Many world leaders gave their condolences to the country including South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as leaders from America Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama.

Biden referred to Abe as a “very solid guy” as well as a “very stable ally.” Trump called the initial news “absolutely devastating” saying: “he was a true friend of mine, and much more importantly, America.” Obama said in a statement: “former Prime Minister Abe was devoted to both the country he served and the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan.”

Multiple Japanese and international news outlets cited officials from Abe’s political party and the regional party head to the regional hospital where his death was confirmed. Local fire department official Makoto Morimoto said Abe was in Cardiopulmonary arrest otherwise known as CPA, meaning he was not breathing and his heart stopped, even as he was airlifted to the hospital.