The New York Times, citing a local fire offcial, reported today that Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, collapsed while giving a speech in western Japan near Kyoto. A gunshot was heard and Abe was said to be bleeding as he was loaded into an ambulance. At that point, Abe was unconscious and showing no vital signs, according to the Times. He was then driven to a helicopter and flown to a medical facility.
CNN and Japanese media outlet NHK reported that a man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The outlet reported that the alleged assailent was in his 40s and a local resident.
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was in the region giving a speech related to an upcoming election.
This article was originally published by Deadline.com. Read the original article here.