Shinzo Abe Has Been Shot, Gravely Injured in Assassination Attempt

The very popular Shinzo Abe, a longtime friend of President Trump, stepped down as Prime Minister of Japan in 2020, but has been campaigning for various politicians as he remains active in politics.   An assassin shot him moments ago:

TOKYO — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and gravely injured while campaigning Friday in south-central Japan, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was giving a speech in the city of Nara when he was shot around 11:30 a.m. (10:30 p.m. Thursday ET). NHK, citing the local fire department, reported that Abe was in a state of “cardiopulmonary arrest.” It said the suspected shooter appeared to have been apprehended.

Elections for the upper house of the Japanese Parliament are Sunday. Abe, 67, who stepped down in 2020, was campaigning for other members of the governing Liberal Democratic Party but is not a candidate himself. (LINK) 

UPDATE:  Shinzo Abe was shot from behind by a 40-year-old assassin using a shotgun.  Shooter fired two shots.  Shinzo Abe fell after the second shot. UPDATE 2: NO VITAL SIGNS

Pictures below of Abe and the shooter.  Warning.  Disturbing.

Shooter:

Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe were close friends long before Trump entered politics.