Former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe is fighting for his life after being shot. Here's what we know

An aerial photo shows a medical helicopter carrying former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara Prefecture on July 8. (The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP)

Here's what we know so far:

• The shooting: Abe was shot at about 11:30 a.m. local time in Nara, east of Osaka, as he gave an election campaign speech on the street. Two shots can be heard in video of the incident, aired by public broadcaster NHK. Abe suffered a gunshot wound to the right side of his neck, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Tokyo. He was taken to the hospital first by ambulance, then by medical helicopter.
• The suspect: Police have arrested Tetsuya Yamagami, a Nara resident in his 40s, in relation to the shooting, according to NHK, citing police sources. NHK reported that the man did not try to run away, and is being held for questioning at Nara Nishi police station. He appears to have used a handmade gun, NHK reported. Video footage of the incident shows police officers wrestling the suspect to the ground close to where Abe had been standing, moments after the shots were heard.
• Abe's condition: The former leader is now in critical condition, undergoing emergency treatment by doctors fighting to save his life, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference on Friday afternoon. Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest after collapsing, according to an official from the Nara City Fire Department. He was conscious and responsive while being taken to hospital, according to NHK, citing police.
• Tokyo's response: At the news conference, an emotional Kishida denounced the apparent attack as "not a forgivable act," saying the government was working to assess the situation and "take appropriate measures."
• International outcry: Messages from world leaders, past and present, have flooded in, expressing condemnation for the shooting and their well wishes for Abe. The US Secretary of State, Australian Prime Minister, several former Australian Prime Ministers, Indian Prime Minister, British Prime Minister and Taiwanese President are among those who have sent well wishes to Abe.

‍

‍

‍

Even after resigning as Japan's Prime Minister in 2020, citing health reasons, Shinzo Abe has remained politically active.

He has regularly appeared in the media to discuss current affairs; for instance, he told Japanese television in February that Japan should discuss a possible sharing of nuclear weapons similar to that of NATO members following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday before the shooting, he had been in Nara giving an election campaign speech on the street, to support Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates ahead of Upper House elections scheduled for Sunday.

He had planned to head to Kyoto next, then to Saitama prefecture neighboring the capital Tokyo.

• History maker: Abe is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Japan's history, having served from 2006 to 2007, then again from 2012 to 2020, when he stepped down, citing his chronic illness colitis.
• Economic legacy: By the time he was re-elected in 2012, Japan was facing an economic downturn after decades of stagnation — prompting one of Abe's landmark initiatives, an experiment known as "Abenomics." His allies credit the move with halting further decline — but the country's economy remained vulnerable throughout his time in office.
• "Womenomics": Abe also touted workplace reforms during his tenure, vowing to improve gender representation and closing gaps in the workforce — increasingly urgent as Japan faced a demographic decline, with a rapidly ageing population and falling birth rate. But critics say Abe did not manage to address the country's gender gap or resolve deep-rooted issues.
• International relations: On the diplomatic front, too, Abe's achievements were mixed. He cultivated a strong relationship with Washington — Tokyo's major post-war ally — and personal ties with then-President Donald Trump. But Japan's relationships with China and South Korea deteriorated during his time in office, with a number of territorial disputes and diplomatic spats.

‍

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is receiving a blood transfusion, according to Nobuo Kishi, Abe's younger brother and the country's Defense Minister.

"I am told that he is now in a hospital in Nara, where he is receiving sensible treatment, including a blood transfusion," Kishi said.

Abe suffered a wound to the neck when he was shot on Friday morning in the city of Nara, according to officials. Kishi said the attack, which took place as Abe was delivering an election campaign speech, is “an affront to democracy” and suppression of “freedom of speech."

Thank you for this informative article CNN