SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he is deeply shocked by the shooting of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday (Jul 8).
Mr Abe was at an election campaign event in the western region of Nara when a man opened fire at him from behind. Japanese media reported that the suspect, who has been taken into custody, used what appeared to be a homemade firearm.
According to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Mr Abe is in “very grave condition”.
“I am deeply shocked to learn that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot in Nara Prefecture this morning,” said Mr Lee in a Facebook post.
“This is a senseless act of violence. Mr Abe is in critical condition and doctors are working to save him.”
Mr Abe is Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. He was 52 years old when he first became prime minister in 2006, the youngest person in the country to occupy the job.
“Mr Abe is a good friend of Singapore. I had just hosted him to lunch in May, on my visit to Tokyo,” said Mr Lee. “My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Abe and his family.”