Shinzo Abe, former Japan prime minister, shot during speech

Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe is in a “state of cardiopulmonary arrest” after collapsed while making a speech, with initial reports saying gunshots had been heard shortly before he fell to the ground.

NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, said Abe – the country’s longest-serving prime minister until he resigned in 2020 – appeared to be bleeding from the chest after being shot from behind with a shotgun on Friday morning.

NHK said a man had been taken into custody but provided no further details. Abe had been in the city of Nara to make a campaign speech ahead of this Sunday’s upper house elections.