By Jessie Yeung, Rhea Mogul, Helen Regan, Rob Picheta, Amy Woodyatt, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Elise Hammond, CNN
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was conscious and responsive while being transported to the hospital after the possible shooting, according to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources.
An aerial photo from Nara city on Friday shows Abe being taken to the hospital via helicopter. Abe is seen lying on a stretcher, surrounded by several people.
The former Prime Minister was in Nara on Friday giving a speech in support of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates, ahead of Upper House elections scheduled for Sunday, when the apparent shooting occurred.
Photos taken before Abe collapsed show him speaking on the street, with onlookers and passersby clearly visible around him.
An official from the Nara City Fire Department has confirmed to CNN that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest when he collapsed while giving a campaign speech in Nara.
Abe was rushed to hospital on Friday after he was shot in the chest during a speech public broadcaster NHK reported, citing an official of the Liberal Democratic Party Abe faction.
His condition is unknown, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, according to Reuters.
United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel posted on Twitter Friday that he was "saddened and shocked" following the possible shooting of Shinzo Abe.
"Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the U.S. The U.S. Government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, & people of Japan," it added.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the condition of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unknown, according to Reuters.
Abe was rushed to hospital after being apparently shot in the chest, according to public broadcaster NHK.
An aerial photo showed emergency vehicles at the scene in the city of Nara, and a small crowd gathered on the sidewalk. Video broadcast on NHK showed police wrestling a man to the ground on the street, close to where Abe was delivering an election campaign speech.
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tweeted on Friday that he was "horrified" by the news of Abe's collapse.
"Abe Shinzo is one of the great leaders of our times. Right now we must hope and pray that he pulls through," Turnbull wrote.
Turnbull served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, while Abe was Prime Minister of Japan.
Photos posted on social media Friday show a suspect being held down on the ground, his arms restrained.
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder and retrieved a gun, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Shinzo Abe collapsed during a speech in Nara City at around 11:30 a.m. local time, and appeared to be bleeding after a possible gunshot in his back, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
According to an official of the Liberal Democratic Party Abe faction, Abe was shot in the chest and carried away by an ambulance, NHK reported. Police have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder and retrieved a gun.
Abe arrived in Nara from Haneda Airport via Osaka Airport to give an election campaign speech on the street, to support Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates ahead of the upcoming Upper House elections scheduled for Sunday, according to NHK.
He had planned to head to Kyoto afterward, then to Saitama prefecture, which neighbors the capital Tokyo.
NHK TV is reporting that Abe is moved to Nara Medical University. CNN has not been able to independently verify these reports.
An official from the Nara City Fire Department official said a man collapsed while giving a speech today, and that man has been transported by ambulance to hospital — but the official said he cannot disclose the man's identity or medical status.
Shinzo Abe was the longest-serving Japanese Prime Minister in history before he stepped down in 2020, citing health reasons.
Abe has colitis, a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease, which was also a factor in his sudden resignation as prime minister in 2007, ending his first term after just over a year in office.
"For almost eight years I controlled my chronic disease, however, this year in June I had a regular check-up and there was a sign of the disease," he said in August 2020, when announcing his resignation.
Serving multiple terms: Abe's first term was marred by controversies and worsening health, and he stepped down as party leader and prime minister in 2007, eventually returning to both positions in 2012.
Following his return as leader, he became the dominant force in Japanese politics, winning a landslide third term in 2017 and a fourth in 2019.
