Bahrain strongly condemns assassination of former Japan PM, terms it “heinous terrorist act”

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the assassination of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, terming the incident as a “heinous terrorist act.”

The shocking act contradicts all moral and humanitarian values, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, expressing deep condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Japan and Abe’s family.

The statement hailed the ‘outstanding’ contribution of the late PM in serving his homeland and the Japanese people and developing and strengthening Bahrain-Japan ties.

Separately, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, paid homage to the former Japanese Premier, recalling his prominent role and efforts in boosting bilateral relations and cooperation and wishing his family patience and consolation.

Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader and Former Prime Minister, died yesterday hours after he was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election, shocking a country in which political violence is rare and guns are tightly controlled.

The shooter opened fire on Abe, 67, from behind as the former premier addressed members of the public on a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara. Japanese media reported that the weapon appeared to be a homemade gun.

"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections - the very foundation of our democracy - and is absolutely unforgivable," said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Abe's protege, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

It was the first killing of a sitting or former Japanese leader since a 1936 coup attempt, when several figures including two expremiers were assassinated. Doctors were unable to revive Abe, who was taken to hospital in cardiopulmonary arrest and showing no vital signs.

He was declared dead at 5:03 p.m. (0803 GMT), about five and a half hours after being shot. He bled to death from deep wounds to the heart and the right side of his neck, despite receiving more than 100 units of blood in transfusions over four hours, Hidetada Fukushima, the professor in charge of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University Hospital, told a televised news conference.