Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been critically injured in an assassination attempt, his condition is said to be "critical" and local media have raised fears of his death.
The French news agency AFP quoted local media as saying that the incident took place in the Nara area while Shinzo Abe was there during the election campaign.
The Japanese media channel National Broadcaster NH reported that a 40-year-old man was arrested after the attack and weapons were recovered from his possession.
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According to reports, gunfire was heard when the former prime minister was addressing a function in connection with Sunday's Upper House elections.
An eyewitness told NHK that "a man approached her from behind while Shinzo Abe was speaking."
He added: "The first shot sounded like a cracker and he stood up, but the second sound was very loud and people saw sparks and smoke."
A source from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party told GG News that Shinzo Abe, 67, was bleeding from his neck when he was seen falling.
NEHK and Kyodo say Abe was taken to hospital and appears to be in a cardio-respiratory arrest. The term is commonly used in Japan when a certificate of death is obtained.
According to media reports, he was shot in the back with a shotgun.
The Japanese government has said a task force has been set up to investigate the incident, while government spokesmen will speak to the media soon.
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