The suspect in the assassination of Shinzo Abe used a handmade gun to kill Japan's former PM, police say
Officers said they found several handmade weapons at the home of the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41
Abe, 67, was shot at twice from behind while giving a campaign speech in southern Japan, suffering wounds to his neck and chest
He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead about five hours later at 5pm local time
Japan's current prime minister, Fumio Kishida, says he is "lost for words", describing Abe as a "personal friend"
Abe - in office in 2006-07 and 2012-20 - remains the country's longest-serving PM and best-known political figure internationally
Global leaders are reacting with shock; PM Boris Johnson says the UK stands with the Japanese people at a "sad and dark time"
Several handmade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, have been confiscated after police carried out a search of the suspect's house, police say.
Police say an investigation began at 17:17 local time and is still ongoing.
The suspected shooter told officers he had a grudge against a "specific organisation", police say.
Yamagami believed Shinzo Abe was part of that group, which is why he shot him, they add.
Asked by a member of the Japanese media whether the shooter's intention was to kill Abe, police say only that Yamagami admitted to shooting the former PM.
Police officers say the suspect, Yamagami, admitted to shooting at the former prime minister.
He also told officers that he had used a homemade gun in the shooting, police say.
Police have begun a press conference following the assassination of Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the city of Nara today.
The suspect, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, was apprehended near the site of the shooting, police say.
After Abe passed away at 17:03 local time, police say the case was turned into a murder investigation.
A 90-person investigation taskforce has been established, they add.
Image source, EPA/The Asahi ShimbunThe scene before the shooting, where a large crowd had assembled
Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has died after being shot while giving a campaign speech, shocking a country where gun violence is very rare.
Here is a recap of the main developments:
Image source, Takenobu Nakajima/via REUTERSThe moment the suspect was detained by police
More world leaders have been paying tribute.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that "Japan has lost a great prime minister", adding that Abe "dedicated his life to his country and worked for stability in the world".
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the assassination "shocking" and "profoundly disturbing," describing Abe as a leader of great vision who brought the relationship between the US and Japan "to new heights".
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Abe was "one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage" and "under his leadership Japan emerged as one of Australia’s most like-minded partners in Asia - a legacy that endures today".
Image source, ReutersJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe along with G7 leaders at a summit in Biarritz in 2019
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said he was "shocked by this terrible attack" and described Abe as "a great protagonist of Japanese and international political life in recent decades, thanks to his innovative spirit and his reforming vision".
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen said "not only has the international community lost an important leader, but Taiwan has also lost an important and close friend".
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he was "deeply shocked by the news of the assassination" of Abe, adding that "my thoughts are with the family of our Japanese friend who was always very kind to Poland".
The Chinese embassy in Japan said Abe made "contributions towards improving China-Japan relations during his term" and expressed condolences on his death to his family.
The Phillippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Abe was "greatly admired by many Filipinos".
And Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he was "a fierce and distinguished leader".
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida became visibly emotional earlier while speaking to the media after Abe had been shot but before his death was announced.
It's rare for politicians in Japan to show their distress in public.
Image source, ReutersPolice stand guard outside Nara Medical University Hospital, where Shinzo Abe died
A search of the suspected gunman's home has uncovered what police believe are explosives, local media has reported.
Security officials at the scene where Shinzo Abe was shot tackled the gunman, and arrested a 41-year-old man who is now in police custody.
The suspect has been identified as Nara resident Tetsuya Yamagami.
Police discovered several possible explosive devices during a search of his home, according to local media. Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported that bomb disposal technicians are preparing to carry out a controlled explosion on the premises.
Officials have yet to comment on the suspect's motives, but local media outlets reported that Yamagami told police he was "dissatisfied with former Prime Minister Abe and aimed to kill him".
He is reported to be a former member of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force - Japan's equivalent of a navy.
Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
BBC Tokyo correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesSince the news broke this morning, messages have been pouring in from friends and contacts, all asking the same question: how could this have happened in Japan?
I felt much the same myself. Living here you get used to not thinking about violent crime.
The identity of the victim only makes the news more shocking.
Shinzo Abe may no longer be Japan's prime minister, but he's still a huge figure in Japanese public life, and probably the most recognisable Japanese politician of the last three decades.
Who would want to kill Abe? And why?
When I say people don't think about violent crime here, I'm not exaggerating.
You can read Rupert's full analysis here.
Image source, Getty ImagesPutin (R) hosted Abe in Vladivostok, Russia, three years ago
Vladimir Putin has contacted Shinzo Abe's family to offer his condolences, the Russian president has said.
Abe was an "outstanding statesman" who "did a lot for the development of good neighbourly relations between our countries," he said.
"I wish you and your family strength and courage in the face of this heavy, irreplaceable loss," Putin said on the messaging app Telegram.
Image source, Ronald GrantThe shooting has shocked a country known for its strict gun laws and where violence involving firearms is very rare.
It’s extremely hard to own a weapon in Japan legally.
Although there are some exceptions, including for hunting, those applying for a licence are subject to mental health and drug checks, as well as criminal record checks.
In addition, those wanting to own a gun need a full day’s training and have to undergo a written test and pass a shooting range evaluation.
In 2020, there were 32 deaths attributed to firearms in Japan, according to the Small Arms Survey which tracks gun violence globally, external.
That’s about the same number of gun killings as recorded in England and Wales in the year up to the end of March 2020, external.
But at about 125 million, Japan’s population is more than twice the size of that of England and Wales.
Mariko Oi
Asia correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesShinzo Abe was such an influential figure in Japan - someone who gave huge amounts of advice to his successor Fumio Kishida, who has just paid tribute to "a personal friend".
Of course, the current administration is fully functioning without his advice, but he had become one of the most powerful politicians in the country.
He was also very passionate about changing Japan's pacifist constitution - a divisive issue within the country and one that also angered neighbours South Korea and China.
Those views are still echoed by his colleagues and friends in the ruling Liberal Democrat Party - a conservative party that has been in power for most of Japan's post-war history.
As tributes pour in from high-profile figures around Japan, I am pretty sure his influence will not subside.
Image source, EPATetsuya Yamagami (back right) has been named as the suspected killer
Images from the scene where Shinzo Abe spoke earlier appear to show the suspect moments before he opened fire.
The shooter - who has been named by Japanese media as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami - can be seen standing a short distance behind Abe as he steps up to the podium to speak to voters outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station of Kintetsu Railway in Nara, southern Japan.
He can be seen wearing cargo trousers with a strap around his shoulders.
Image source, ReutersThe suspected attacker was tackled at the scene and is now in police custody
The man who is suspected to have carried out the shooting has been identified by Japanese media as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of Nara city.
He is reported to be a former member of Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force, the country's navy, but the defence ministry has not officially confirmed this.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reports Yamagami as telling police he was "dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him".
The suspect is now in police custody. Eyewitnesses said they saw a man carrying what they described as a large gun and firing twice at Abe from behind.
Photographs taken as the suspect was being apprehended show what looks like an improvised weapon lying on the ground nearby.
It is unclear how the shooter came to know about Abe's attendance at the campaign in advance, as the visit was only confirmed late last night.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersThe current Japanese prime minister has condemned the shooting of Shinzo Abe, calling it an act of brutality.
Fumio Kishida said Abe, Japan's longest service prime minister, led the country "with great leadership", adding that he was "lost for words" after the assassination.
"I have great respect for the legacy Shinzo Abe left behind and I pay the deepest condolences to him," Kishida said.
Kishida described Abe as a "personal friend" and someone he "spent a lot of time with".
"I received valuable advice and support from Abe," he said.
The former PM was shot in the city of Nara while giving a speech ahead of Sunday's Upper House elections.
Kishida added: "We must ensure a free and fair election is conducted safely and we must not let this incident impact daily governance.
"Under the resolve to never give in to violence, we will continue election campaigning tomorrow."
Image source, Getty ImagesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Shinzo Abe in 2019
Many more world leaders are reacting to the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his condolences to Japan, describing the shooting of Abe as an "unforgiveable act of crime"
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was "deeply saddened and stunned", adding that Germany will "stand closely by Japan's side in these difficult hours"
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis described Abe as a "strong defender of democracy and multilateralism and also a true friend"
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Abe a "dear friend", adding: “I condemn those who carried out this heinous attack”
This footage shows the moments before Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at an event in the city of Nara in western Japan.
It has since been confirmed Abe has died.
The doctor at the press conference says Shinzo Abe bled to death after his team tried for hours to save his life.
The press conference has now finished.
More now from the press conference at the hospital where Shinzo Abe was treated and died.
The doctor giving the press conference says no vital signs were detected by the time the former prime minister was transferred to the hospital.
Abe fell into a cardiopulmonary arrest state at the scene of the crime, the doctor says.
He also says a bullet caused wounds in Abe's shoulder.
Tributes to Shinzo Abe from world leaders have started pouring in after the former Japanese prime minister's death was confirmed.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe".
Modi described Abe as a "towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator".
"He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place," Modi added.
Image source, Getty ImagesNarendra Modi said Abe "dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place"
Former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott, who worked closely with Abe, described him as Japan's "most significant post-war leader".
"Under Abe, Japan assumed its rightful place as the leading democracy of the western Pacific," he tweeted.
Abbott added: "This is a dreadful loss for Japan, for Australia and for a world where democracies stand strong and together."
Image source, Getty ImagesTony Abbott, pictured with Shinzo Abe, said he was Japan's "most significant post-war leader"