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The 67-year-old former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, died today as a result of injuries caused by two shots that targeted his upper chest in the back, according to international newspapers. The attack occurred this Friday during a rally in the city of Nara.

#URGENT New images of the attack on Shinzo Abe in #NaraJapan.#Japan pic.twitter.com/sDXUJyp3Sp

- OHF News (@OHFNews) July 8, 2022

Abe was speaking at an election campaign event, of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) for the July 10 parliamentary elections, outside a railway station in the city of Nara, east of Osaka, when he was approached from behind by an armed man.

After two shots, Abe fell to the ground, unconscious and bleeding. Several people tried to support him. He was taken to the hospital, where local media say he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 67, was taken unconscious to the University Hospital in #Nara. He was transported in a helicopter. #Japan pic.twitter.com/u1Wsq5fcws

- OHF News (@OHFNews) July 8, 2022

Japanese broadcaster NHK said that the shooter, a 41-year-old man from Nara, has been arrested. The man, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, served three years in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. He told police that he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him, NHK added.

#URGENT 🇯🇵 Abe being attended to in the street. The former prime minister was taken unconscious to a hospital.

Local media said that one suspect was detained: a 42-year-old man. pic.twitter.com/V6fUt6D3Dm

- OHF News (@OHFNews) July 8, 2022

Japanese government condemned the attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"This barbarism cannot be tolerated, regardless of the person's reason, so we strongly condemn it and will do our best to help," said Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has canceled his election schedule to head to Tokyo.