(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 24, 2020, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media upon his arrival at the prime minister’s office. – Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was attacked and left bleeding at a campaign event in the Nara region on July 8, 2022, local media reported. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in heart failure after apparently being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, NHK public television said Friday.
The broadcaster aired footage showing Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him. Abe was holding his chest when he collapsed, with his shirt smeared with blood. NHK says Abe was rushed to a hospital.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in Nara. He was standing while making an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday’s election for the parliament’s upper house.
Police arrested a male suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, NHK said.