Questions arise over Abe's security protection after assassination

A day after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down in broad daylight, a stunned nation wonders how the gunman could approach one of the world's most prominent politicians. Japan and fire two shots from close range without security intervening.

On TV and social media there are many videos of the shooter walking unhindered past security before pointing a large homemade gun in the direction of Mr. Abe. The first shot appeared to surprise the former leader and seconds later a second shot was fired and Mr Abe collapsed to the ground. At that point, a group of men who appeared to be his security detail tackled the shooter to the ground.

The graphic footage raised questions about why the shooter was able to approach behind the riser where Mr. Abe was speaking and how after the first shot he was able to fire a second before security officers arrested him.

Toshio Tamogami, the Japanese Air Force Chief of Staff, seemed to ask the question that the country was concerned about.

"How did the police, protection details and other security guards not notice the criminal who approached with a gun from behind?" he wrote on Twitter.

The national police agency said there were no issues with Mr Abe's safety , according to the Jiji news agency, and that there had been an officer at the scene from the Japanese security police. This protective detail is a division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and performs a similar role to the Secret Service in the United States. A spokesperson for the agency was not immediately available for comment.

The agency said the only Security Police officer at the scene had seen the assailant but had been unable to stop the shooting, according to Jiji. The local Nara Police Department said there were also officers guarding Mr Abe, although they declined to provide details on the number of officers deployed.

Danny Russel, a vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former deputy secretary of state who traveled extensively with President Barack Obama, said he was stunned by Abe's lack of protection during Friday's campaign stop.

"The idea that the security police could have been there and not just allowed someone to get approach that close to Abe carrying a homemade weapon, but there were two shots within seconds of each other," Russel said. "Why didn't anyone interpose their body or tackle Abe to the ground?" major crimes and disturbances at political rallies are rare.

Paul Nadeau, former private secretary and adviser to a Liberal Democratic Party MP from 2015 to 2018, has said he witnessed the campaign stop where Mr Abe was speaking and that security was not overwhelming, even though he was prime minister at the time. He noted that there were about six to 12 Security Police officers guarding it, but the level of security did not come close to that of a US President.

Mr. Nadeau, who is now an adjunct professor at Temple University in Japan, said he would attend party functions where Mr. Abe was present with several hundred politicians, aides and other affiliates without going through a background check , screening or metal detector. .

The proximity of candidates and voters was intentional, he said, in order to create a sense of intimacy and a sense that the politician was accessible. Security was rarely considered.

"He never...