The man who shot former Japan prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to death, Tetsuya Yamagami, has told the police that he killed the 67-year-old man because of his alleged links with an organization.
Abe was shot dead while speaking at a political campaign event on Friday morning, July 8, in the southern city of Nara.
Police investigating the assassination said the 41-year-old gunman, who killed the late prime minister, held a grudge against a “specific organisation,” which he believed Abe was part of, according to People’s Gazette.
The police also noted that Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe with a homemade gun.
As a hearse carrying Abe’s body arrived at his residence in Tokyo, members of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), dressed in black, lined up to pay their respects.
According to local media reports, a night vigil will be held on Monday, July 11, and Abe’s funeral is due to take place on Tuesday, July 12.
Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and his death at the age of 67 has profoundly shocked a country where gun crime is very rare.
Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck and damage to his heart during the attack.
He was said to be conscious and responsive in the minutes after the attack, but doctors said no vital signs were detected by the time he was transferred for treatment.
Medics worked for hours to save him before he was pronounced dead on Friday.
