Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe was pronounced dead on Friday afternoon, the hospital treating him confirmed, after he was shot at a campaign event.

“Shinzo Abe was transported to (the hospital) at 12:20 pm. He was in a state of cardiac arrest upon arrival,” said Hidetada Fukushima, professor of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University hospital.

“Resuscitation was administered. However, unfortunately he died at 5:03 pm,” he told reporters.

Abe was flown to hospital by helicopter after a shooter opened fire while the former prime minister was delivering a campaign speech in the western region of Nara.

But he was already showing no vital signs by the time he reached the hospital, with bullet wounds to the neck and chest. One bullet appeared to have entered through his left shoulder.

Abe died of blood loss, despite being administered blood transfusions in large quantities, Fukushima added.

The former prime minister’s wife Akie Abe arrived at the hospital earlier on Friday afternoon and Fukushima said the family had been informed of Abe’s death.

Shots were heard, and a white puff of smoke was seen as Abe made a campaign stump speech outside a train station in the western city of Nara, public broadcaster NHK said.

Abe served two terms as prime minister to become Japan’s longest-serving premier before stepping down in 2020, citing ill health.

But he has remained a dominant presence over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) party, controlling one of its significant factions.

Abe first took office in 2006 as Japan’s youngest prime minister since World War Two. After a year plagued by political scandals, voter outrage at lost pension records, and an election defeat for his ruling party, Abe quit.

Source: AFP