Abe shooter says his mother bankrupted by donating to religious group

This photo provided by Mainichi Shimbun shows a man believed to be Tetsuya Yamagami, wearing a grey t-shirt, khaki trousers and a protective mask, as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was about to make a speech in Nara, western Japan, on Friday. (Photo: Reuters)

The man who fatally shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told police that he initially planned to attack a leader of a religious group who he believed caused his mother to make big donations to the group, investigative sources said Saturday.

Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, has also admitted that he intended to kill Abe, believing he had ties with the group, the sources said.