Japanese former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead while he spoke at an election rally in the western region of Nara on Friday. The attack drew immediate condemnation, with world leaders praising Abe's "global leadership".
Abe died in hospital hours after being shot at a political campaign event in an attack condemned as "absolutely unforgivable".
Citing a senior member of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, national broadcaster NHK said "former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara, where he was receiving medical treatment."
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida abandoned the campaign trail and flew to Tokyo by helicopter where he addressed reporters in a voice trembling with emotion.
Suspected shooter arrested
"Former prime minister Abe was shot at around 11:30am," in the country's western region of Nara, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno had earlier told reporters.
"One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody."
Local media have identified the suspect as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, citing police sources, with several media outlets describing him as a former member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the country's navy.
He was wielding a weapon described by local media as a "handmade gun", and NHK said he told police after his arrest that he "targeted Abe with the intention of killing him".
Abe had been delivering a speech at an event ahead of Sunday's upper house elections, with security personnel present.
Eye-witnesses spoke of two gunshots being fired at the former PM, from behind.
Abe, who is 67 years old, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency.
Worldwide shock and concern
World leaders were quick to condemn the attack and offer their sympathies and support.
French President Emmanuel Macron was among world figures to express his shock and condemnation of an "unspeakable" attack.
He said France was "standing in solidarity with the Japanese people", adding: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a great man."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at the G20 meeting in Bali: "This is a very, very sad moment,"
"Our thoughts, our prayers are with his family, with the people of Japan."
European Council president Charles Michel said he was "shocked and saddened by (the) cowardly attack".
Abe was "a true friend, fierce defender of multilateral order & democratic values", Michel tweeted.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was "deeply shocked".
Longest-serving PM
Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
He was a hawkish conservative who pushed for the revision of Japan's pacifist constitution to recognise the country's military, and he remained a prominent political figure even after his resignation.
