According to local media reports, Abe was shot twice while giving a speech in the southern city of Nara.

He was rushed to the nearest hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Pictures taken at the scene showed him bleeding.

The police arrested the alleged shooter, 41-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya, for attempted murder before Abe's death was announced. The attacker explained his actions as hatred for the former politician.

Shinzo Abe served as prime minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.

He was the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. Abe also served as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2005 to 2006 under Junichiro Koizumi and was briefly leader of the opposition in 2012. (ILKHA)