Shinzo Abe – Chilling moment Japanese ex-PM is gunned down as deafening shots ring out in front of stunned onlookers

Published: 8:39, 8 Jul 2022
Updated: 14:39, 8 Jul 2022

THIS is the horrifying moment former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot twice before the gunman was tackled.

Disturbing footage shows the 67-year-old politician delivering a speech before there are two deafening bangs as the shooter opens fire.

The suspected shooter lurking behind Shinzo Abe

Footage shows the moment the gunman raises his weapon

Huge puffs of smoke and loud bangs accompanied the shots from the homemade gun

Security agents pin down the shooter after he cowardly shot Abe in the back

Abe has now died from his injuries after he was shot twice - suffering wounds to his neck and collarbone.

The video shows chaos ensue as the person behind the camera lens scrambles on the ground, but then manages to focus on the aftermath.

It then shows the suspected shooter - who is understood to have been wielding a homemade gun - being tackled by three security officers.

The alleged gunman is brought down and one the men in a black suit and face masks pins him down.

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The suspect has been named as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, from Nara.

Fuji TV reports that the suspect is a former member of the Maritime Self-Defence Force for three years until 2005.

Close-ups of the gun appear to show two pipes strapped to a piece of wood by thick black tape.

National broadcaster NHK aired footage showing Abe collapsing and clutching his blood-smeared chest as several security guards ran toward him.

Fumio Kishida, Abe's replacement as prime minister, was rushed to his office by helicopter for emergency talks with officials.

What we know so far...

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after being gunned down in a violent assassination
The 67-year-old was giving a speech in the western Japanese city of Nara when he was shot twice from behind in the chest and neck
after two loud bangs
A 41-year-old armed forces veteran, Yamagami Tetsuya, was arrested with a homemade shotgun for the killing
The motive is so far unknown, although conflicting local reports say the suspect has confessed to shooting Abe as he was 'dissatisfied' with his policies
Japan's prime minister has described the shooting as a "heinous act"

Addressing the media earlier, he describing the shooting as a "heinous act".

He added that the reasons for the "barbaric"; shooting were not clear at this moment.

Abe was giving a speech at a campaign event ahead of Sunday’s election for the parliament’s upper house when the shots rang out.

His security team were around him, but the gunman was able to draw his weapon and shoot the former statesman at close range "without being checked".

Abe speaking at the rally moments before being shotCredit: Getty

The gunman is tackled by a security guard in front of onlookersCredit: Getty

Abe lays on the ground receiving treatment from bystandersCredit: AP:Associated Press

Abe was airlifted to hospital where he later diedCredit: Getty

Abe's scheduled speech was publicised on Thursday.

Japan has some of the strictest gun laws in developed nations, so shootings are rare.

Boris Johnson was among those to express their shock at the events in Japan.

"Utterly appalled and saddened to hear about the despicable attack on Shinzo Abe," he tweeted. "My thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

Former US president Donald Trump also responded to the news, describing Abe as "a truly great man" and "a true friend of mine" on his social media platform 'Truth Social'.

The US ambassador to Japan wrote a heartbreaking tribute to the ex-prime minister.

"We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo," Rahm Emanuel.

"Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the US the US Government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, & people of Japan."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke of his horror at the assassination.