Former Japan PM Abe’s body arrives at his Tokyo home

Tokyo, Jul 9 (EFE).- The body of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, assassinated during a campaign event, arrived Saturday at his home in Tokyo.

The car carrying Abe’s body, accompanied by his widow, Akie, left shortly before 6am from hospital in the city of Nara, where he was taken after being shot and after the autopsy and the relevant procedures had been completed, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Akie had traveled to the western Japanese city after Abe was shot in the back Friday while giving a speech during the parliamentary by-election campaign.

Abe was rushed to hospital, where he died hours later due to loss of blood, according to medical authorities.

The vehicle with his mortal remains arrived at his residence in the Tokyo district of Shibuya after 1:30 pm on Saturday, according to media gathered outside the house.

Members of his party and those close to him, including the former Japanese minister of internal affairs and communications and current chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party’s policy research council, Sanae Takaichi, and the head of the party faction that Abe was part of, Tatsuo Fukuda, were also present.

Current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also arrived at the family residence to convey his condolences for the death of his political mentor.

Abe was shot by a 41-year-old unemployed ex-military man with a homemade weapon. The attacker was arrested at the scene.

After the assassination, most political parties canceled their campaign activities, which resumed on Saturday, the day before the election.

In a speech in the city of Fujiyoshida in the center of the country, Kishida highlighted his responsibility to complete the elections freely, fairly and safely and said that he would never give in to violence.

The event took place amid heavy security measures.

Metal detectors were installed, the public gathered in a fenced area five meters away and security behind the prime minister was reinforced, something very unusual in the country until now. EFE

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