July 9, 2022 Shinzo Abe assassination news

The body of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Tokyo on Saturday after he was assassinated in the city of Nara. As Japan reels from the shocking shooting, here’s what we know so far.

Funeral arrangements for Abe: The funeral for Abe will be held over Monday and Tuesday, his office told CNN, with a wake will be held on Monday, followed by a memorial service on Tuesday. The funeral will be hosted by his widow Akie Abe in a temple in Tokyo, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported.

Police will review security: Japan’s National Police Agency said it will review security arrangements put in place before Friday’s shooting, according to NHK. Security was being handled by Nara prefectural police, which drew up a security plan for the former prime minister while he was in the city.

Nara Prefectural Police Chief Tomoaki Onizuka said he “can’t deny there were problems” with Abe’s security. In a press conference on Saturday, he said that authorities are looking into what went wrong in the lead-up to the former prime minister being shot. He added that he “take[s] responsibility” for the security failure that resulted in Abe’s killing.

Suspect used homemade gun: The suspect in Abe’s assassination said the weapon he used was homemade, Nara Nishi police told a news conference on Friday. Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, admitted to shooting Abe, police said. Yamagami, who is unemployed, told investigators he holds hatred toward a certain group that he thought Abe was linked to. Police have not named the group.

Yamagami made multiple types of guns with iron pipes that were wrapped in adhesive tape, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the police. The police found guns with three, five and six iron pipes as barrels. The suspect inserted bullets into the pipe of his homemade gun, parts for which he’d purchased online, NHK reported, citing police. Police believe the suspect used the strongest weapon he made in the assassination, NHK added. 

Elections to take place Sunday: Japanese voters will go to the polls on Sunday despite the assassination of Abe just two days before elections were due to be held. At the time of the shooting, Abe was speaking in support of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates ahead of the election.