Tokyo: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the killing of former leader Shinzo Abe "dastardly" and "barbaric" and that the crime during the election campaign, which is the foundation of democracy, was absolutely unforgivable.

Abe was shot dead while giving a campaign speech in western Japan on Friday. Local fire department official Makoto Morimoto said the 67-year-old Abe was not breathing and his heart stopped while being airlifted to a hospital.

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Police arrested a male suspect at the scene of the shooting in Nara.

NHK public broadcaster aired footage showing Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him. He was bleeding and holding his chest.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe lies on the ground after apparent shooting during an election campaign for the July 10, 2022 Upper House election, in Nara, western Japan July 8, 2022. in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS
Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe lies on the ground after apparent shooting during an election campaign for the July 10, 2022 Upper House election, in Nara, western Japan July 8, 2022. in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS

Kishida, who belongs to the same political party as Abe, returned to Tokyo from a campaign trip after the shooting.

FILE PHOTO: Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stands in front of Japan's national flag after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) annual party convention in Tokyo, Japan, March 5, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
FILE PHOTO: Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stands in front of Japan's national flag after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) annual party convention in Tokyo, Japan, March 5, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

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