The suspect in the attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is hospitalized in serious condition, is a 41-year-old unemployed man and former member of the country's naval force, Japanese police announced today.

Yamagami Tetsuya, originally from Nara, was arrested at the scene of the attack while holding a gun with which he reportedly fired two shots at the former Japanese leader.

According to Japanese Defense Ministry sources, quoted by Lusa, the alleged assailant worked in the naval branch of the Self-Defense Forces for three years, until 2005.

Shinzo Abe was shot in the back with a firearm while speaking on a street in the city of Nara at a Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) election campaign event for the July 10 parliamentary elections.

According to emergency forces, the former governor was in cardiorespiratory arrest when he was transported to the hospital.

Election rallies in Japan are usually held in the streets and with few security measures, due to the low rate of crime and gun attacks.

Shinzo Abe was in office as Japan's prime minister in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020.