Assassination of Japan’s Shinzo Abe stuns world leaders

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP):

Friday’s shocking assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in one of the world’s safest countries stunned leaders and drew condemnation, with Iran calling it “terrorism” while European leaders slammed the “despicable” attack.

Tributes poured in as governments expressed sorrow and solidarity with Japan over the loss of Abe, who was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down in 2020 for health reasons.

Abe, 67, was shot from behind in Nara in western Japan while giving a campaign speech. He was airlifted to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

US President Joe Biden said he was “stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened” and offered his condolences to Abe’s family. Biden said on Friday he would stop at the Japanese embassy in Washington en route to remarks at CIA headquarters to sign a condolence book.

“This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him,” Biden said. “His vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply about the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country, condemned the “unforgivable act”. He said campaigning as well as Sunday’s elections for parliament’s upper house will proceed.

“The free and fair election, which is the root of democracy, needs to be protected no matter what. We will not be defeated by violence,” Kishida said.

Biden called Kishida “a very solid guy” and said he did not believe the killing was likely to have “any profound, destabilising impact on Japanese security or Japanese solidarity”.

Leaders from Turkey to Singapore condemned the attack. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the French foreign ministry called the shooting “despicable”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “horrific” and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez “cowardly”.

“I have fond memories of meeting Mr Abe and his wife during their visit to the United Kingdom in 2016,” Queen Elizabeth II said in a written statement. “His love for Japan and his desire to forge ever-closer bonds with the United Kingdom were clear.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted his “deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time”, while South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the shooting “an intolerable criminal act”, his office said.

Iran said it was “an act of terrorism”.

“As a country that has been a victim of terrorism and has lost great leaders to terrorists, we are following the news closely and with concern,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Abe was one of the first leaders she met after taking office and described him as deeply committed to his role, generous and kind.

Police arrested a suspect at the scene. Under Japanese law, possession of firearms is illegal without a special licence. Importing them is also illegal.

Leaders from Germany, Pakistan, Sweden and the Philippines were also among those who gave condolences, and many countries including Spain and France expressed solidarity with Japan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a day of national mourning on Saturday as a mark of deepest respect for Abe.