(Kitco News) - Shinzo Abe, a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2006 to 2007 was shot last night while delivering a speech. He is currently in hospital and is said to have no vital signs. His attacker was detained at the scene along with an improvised gun.
The younger brother of the former leader has told reporters in Tokyo that Abe is currently receiving a blood transfusion in hospital and that attempts are being made to save his life.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he is"deeply saddened and deeply concerned" by the shooting adding "Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan,"
Before he was shot, Shinzo Abe had been campaigning for his former party ahead of Sunday's legislative elections. Current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the shooting as a “heinous act.”. He then added, "It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated. We will do everything we can, and I would like to use the most extreme words available to condemn this act.”
In the wake of the attack, USD/JPY pushed higher but there has not been a follow-through of any kind of Yen weakness. The motives for the attack are still unknown but reports are trickling in.
