TAIPEI (Taiwan) — The Japanese police acknowledged that there were problems with the security of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, as the country reeled after his assassination during a campaign stop.
According to the Nara police chief, Abe was shot by his own force.
Prefectural police chief Tomoaki Onizuka appeared tearful as he said, “I take it extremely seriously, but with the greatest regret.” He said that the shooting was his fault as he approved and oversaw security plans.
“In light of this very serious consequence it is undeniable there were problems related security for former Prime Minister Abe. I intend to promptly address these problems and take appropriate steps to solve them,” he stated, promising a thorough investigation.
Abe, 67 years old, fell to the roadside after he was shot twice from behind while he campaigned for another politician.
Tetsuya Yamagami (41), who claimed to have military ties and confessed to the killing of Abe, police stated in a press conference on Friday.
The assassination attempt on the Japanese political leader sent shock waves across Japan, where both political murders, and gun violence, are very rare.
According to security experts, the country should conduct an investigation into the shooting. Fumikazu Higuchi was a former Kyoto prefectural investigator and said Abe seemed to have been unprotected.
Yamagami said, “It is necessary for us to investigate why security permitted Yamagami to freely go behind Mr. Abe,” in reference to the video footage that showed open space behind Abe just before he was shot.
On Saturday, Abe’s body returned to his home in the high-end district of Shibuya in Tokyo, according to state broadcaster NHK, making the seven-and-a-half-hour journey from Nara Medical University Hospital, where he had been pronounced dead.
According to the Associated Press Abe’s wife Akie Abe was photographed in the vehicle. A crowd of mourners waited outside the residence of the prime minister with flowers.
Residents also laid flowers along the streets and paid respects to Abe on Friday in Nara, where he was shot.
Natsumi Niwa (50) said that he was shocked by the news.
“My child’s title includes the term kuni. This is Abe’s beautiful nation. I came to express my gratitude and to tell my child all about him.
As the nation mourns the passing of its longest-serving prime Minister, there was a steady stream of condolences from the world’s leaders.
Although Abe had to resign in 2020 due to health concerns, he was still influential in Japan as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s largest faction. His ultra-nationalist views, and his unapologetic stance against Japanese World War II atrocities made Abe a divisive figure.
On Saturday morning, President Joe Biden called Prime Minster Fumio Kishhida to express his condolences. He also said that he stood with the Japanese people.
Biden stated that he was shocked, outraged and deeply saddened at the news, calling the ex-Japan leader a champion of the alliance between our countries and the friendship among our people.
Abe had advocated for closer ties with the United States. In 2016, President Barrack Obama visited Hiroshima, the first American president to visit the site where an atomic bomb was dropped. This bomb was one of two that were ever used in a conflict and it helped Japan surrender to the United States.
Abe was also the first Japanese Prime Minister later that year to visit Pearl Harbor.
Taiwan was also affected by Abe’s death. Taiwan had seen in Abe a strong supporter of the Chinese invasion threat. Tsai Ingwen, President of Taiwan, described Abe as “Taiwan’s steadfast friend” on Friday evening in a condolence message posted on her official Facebook.
Taipei City’s 101 Building was decorated with messages on Friday night.
The region showed its admiration for the leader of the past with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, declaring Saturday a day of mourning as a sign of its deepest respect.
The relationship between Abe and Xi Jinping was strained over regional issues, including tensions at the Taiwan Strait. Xi Jinping also sent condolences to Abe’s family, as well as on behalf of the Chinese people.
