LAST UPDATE | 8 Jul 2022
WORLD LEADERS HAVE expressed shock over the murder of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech.
Mr Abe was shot in western Japan and airlifted to hospital. Officials said he was not breathing and his heart had stopped.
Japanese state media reported that Abe died from his injuries this morning.
Police arrested a suspected gunman at the scene.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the assassination as “an attack on democracy itself”.
“I am deeply saddened by the appalling death of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“He was a strong and committed democrat, and it is especially shocking that he was murdered while engaged in that most democratic of activities, campaigning ahead of an election.
“Putting your arguments before an electorate and asking for their vote is at the very heart of what we believe in as democratic politicians. The attack on former-PM Abe is therefore an attack on democracy itself. It is all the more shocking that it happened in a peace-loving country like Japan.”
Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter that he was “utterly appalled and saddened to hear about the despicable attack on Shinzo Abe”.
He added: “My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
US secretary of state Anthony Blinken said America was “deeply saddened and deeply concerned” over the attempted killing of Mr Abe.
Former US president Donald Trump said the attack on Mr Abe was devastating. He described Mr Abe as a “truly great man and leader” and said he “was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly, America”.
Trump added on his social media app: “This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much. We are all praying for Shinzo and his beautiful family!”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the sentiments.
“Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time,” Mr Albanese tweeted.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was in Sydney meeting with Albanese, said she was “deeply shocked”.
Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot - our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 8, 2022
“He was one of the first leaders I formally met when I became Prime Minister. He was deeply committed to his role, and also generous and kind. I recall him asking after the recent loss of our pet when I met him, a small gesture but one that speaks to the kind of person he is,” Ms Ardern said.
“My thoughts are with his wife and the people of Japan. Events like this shake us all to the core.”
Asian leaders were also stunned.
“Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attacked the “senseless act of violence”.
“Mr Abe is a good friend of Singapore. I had just hosted him to lunch in May, on my visit to Tokyo. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Abe and his family,” Mr Lee said on Facebook.
Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said “an attack on any democratically elected political leader in the world is an attack on supporters of democracy everywhere”.
Abe stepped down as prime minister in 2020 because he said the ulcerative colitis he had had since he was a teenager resurfaced.
He told reporters at the time that it was “gut wrenching” to leave many of his goals unachieved.
Abe was praised in Washington for his push for a stronger US-Japan relationship, which he saw as a means of bolstering Japan’s defence capability.
With reporting by Garreth MacNamee
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