Crime & Justice

Japanese investigators comb Abe shooting site

Tokyo, Jul 13 (EFE).- Japanese police sent some 50 investigators on Wednesday morning to comb the area where former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated last week.

The large-scale investigation began around 5 am (20:00 GMT) in the city of Nara, when police cordoned off the street so that forensic investigators could carry out a search for all the bullets fired in the attack, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The homemade gun used by suspect Tetsuya Yamagami was capable of launching six bullets with each shot and was fired twice.

Investigators believe the bullets would have scattered over a wide area. They had earlier found what is thought to be a bullet hole in an electoral campaign vehicle that was parked 20 meters from where Abe was giving his speech, NHK said.

Abe died last Friday after he was shot while making a stump speech ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, in which his ruling Liberal Democratic Party swept to a resounding victory.

His funeral was held Tuesday at the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, where thousands of people gathered to witness the passing of his hearse and pay their respects.

Authorities are expected to organize a public tribute to the former leader at a date and place yet to be determined. EFE

emg/tw

Related Articles

Back to top button