Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been shot dead while giving a speech in the western city of Nara, state broadcaster NHK reports.
The 67-yr-old dropped on the stage as he was shot twice in the neck and bled to death after sustaining two deep wounds, a doctor from Nara Medical University Hospital said.
He was rushed to hospital at 3:30am Irish time but has sadly died in the last hour.
A young man, said to be an ex soldier, is in police custody in relation to the shooting.
This story is developing.
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