Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shot dead, no vital signs in hospital

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was reportedly shot dead in the city of Nara. He was taken to a hospital where no vital signs were reported, according to national broadcaster NHK.

What happened: NHK said on Friday its reporters heard two gunshots and saw Abe bleeding. The incident happened on a street while he was giving a campaign speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate around 11:30 a.m. (Japan time).

Japanese newspaper Mainichi reports that the former prime minister was shot from behind and suffered cardiorespiratory arrest.

The attacker was arrested by police as he attempted to flee the scene, according to the Mainichi.

The vote is scheduled for the upper house of the Japanese Diet, the House of Councilors, on July 10.

Update: The alleged assailant has been identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, from Nara Prefecture, according to an NHK broadcast followed by Benzinga.

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