Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot during a campaign speech and showed ‘no vital signs’.
He was depicted bleeding and holding his chest as he lay on the ground in the western city of Nara today.
Public broadcaster NHK said he appeared to be in cardiac arrest and was not showing any vital signs.
According to local reports, he was shot from behind, with wounds on the left side of his chest and possibly on his neck.
Police said a 41-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shotgun attack has been arrested.
Abe, 67, was taken to hospital by plane and was initially conscious and responsive, but it appears his condition has worsened.
“Such a barbaric act cannot be tolerated,” Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
NHK showed video of Abe giving a campaign speech outside a train station when two shots were fired at around 11:30 a.m. local time.
The view was then obscured for a moment and then security officials were seen tackling a man on the ground. A cloud of smoke behind Abe was seen in another video.
This story is being updated – more to follow.
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