President Michael D Higgins has expressed his “deep condolences” to the Emperor of Japan at the “appalling” murder of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Mr Abe, 67, was shot from behind during a campaign speech in western Japan on Friday and died in hospital. Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack.
In a letter to Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, President Higgins wrote that "the fact that he fell victim to this most brutal of crimes whilst actively engaging in Japan’s democratic process of political choice makes today’s events all the more appalling."
