Nadhim Zahawi deletes a tweet prematurely declaring the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi deleted a tweet in which he prematurely announced the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A Treasury spokesman told Reuters the message was a genuine error and expressed its reaction to a horrific incident.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead at close range while delivering a speech in western Japan around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Japanese media reported that Abe died of his injuries around 10.20am - about four hours after Mr. Zahawi's tweet.

RecommendedShinzo Abe: Japan's oldest prime ministerShinzo Abe shot dead: Everything we know about Tetsuya Yamagami killer suspectsShinzo Abe Death: The Elder Japanese Prime Minister dies after being shot during his speech - reports

His brother, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, had said earlier in the day that Shinzo Abe was receiving blood transfusions and emergency services said that he was in cardiopulmonary arrest.

In a now-deleted message of condolence, Zahawi said at 6:07 a.m.: “Heartbreaking news from Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot by an attacker.

"We enter politics to serve and try to make the world a better place, a good man lost his life in pursuit of this noble goal. May he rest in eternal peace."< /p>

(Twitter)

Japan has very low rates of gun crime and therefore filming like this is extremely rare.

The attacker was apprehended very soon after the incident and local media quoted police as saying the weapon was believed to be homemade.

In a statement after the attack, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Shinzo Abe was in critical condition.