Senseless act of violence: PM Lee condemns shooting of former Japan PM Abe Shinzo

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he is deeply shocked to learn that former Japan Premier Abe Shinzo was shot this morning (Jul. 8)

He took to Facebook to condemn the “senseless act of violence” and called Mr Abe a good friend of Singapore.

Here’s the full post:

“I am deeply shocked to learn that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot in Nara Prefecture this morning. This is a senseless act of violence. Mr Abe is in critical condition and doctors are working to save him.

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.”

What happened?

Mr Abe was shot in the back while giving a rally speech this morning in Nara Prefecture. He was speaking on behalf of Liberal Democratic Party candidate Kei Sato, 43, a current member of the Upper House running for re-election in Nara.

According to NHK, the police have arrested a suspect Tetsuya Yamagami, a Nara resident. He was reportedly unhappy with Mr Abe and intended to kill him. He has been charged with attempted murder.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Mr Abe is in a “grave condition” and added that the shooting was an “unforgiveable act” and condemning it in the “strongest terms”.

Mr Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, with two stints in office from 2006 to 2007 and 2012 to 2020.

Cover photo credit: PM Lee Facebook page.