By Prior Beharry
FORMER prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe died at hospital on Friday after being shot at a political event. He was 67.
He was shot at twice while he was giving a speech in the city of Nara. Abe suffered a wound to his neck, international media reported.
A 41-year-old suspect is in police custody. Police have identified him as Tetsuya Yamagami, who they said has admitted to the shooting. He said he had a grudge against a “specific organisation”, police revealed.
Police said they also found handmade weapons similar to the ones used in the attack on Abe at Yamagami’s house.
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the attack as “barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.” He said it was “an act of brutality that happened during the elections – the very foundation of our democracy – and is absolutely unforgivable.”
Tributes poured in for Abe.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called his death a “despicable attack” while US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel said Abe had been an “outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the US.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the attack an “unacceptable act of crime.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “This unexpected incident should not be associated with Sino-Japanese relations.”
Abe visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2014 and was hosted by then prime minister Kamal Persad-Bissessar.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page, Persad-Bissessar extended condolences to Abe’s family.
She said, “I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.
“The United National Congress strongly condemns all forms of political violence and stresses that violence is never the answer.
“Back in 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Port of Spain, to develop and expand the partnership between T&T and Japan.”
