Topline
Leaders from around the world expressed shock and offered their prayers after former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot at an election campaign event on Friday in an apparent assassination attempt that has left him fighting for his life.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivering a campaign speech for the ruling Liberal … [+]
Key Facts
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Abe was in “critical condition,” called the shooting a “despicable and barbaric act” and implied it was an attack on democracy.
The White House also condemned the “violent attack” against Abe and said it was closely monitoring the situation and “keeping our thoughts with his [Abe’s]
family and the people of Japan.”
In a post on Truth Social, former president Donald Trump said the news of the shooting was “absolutely devastating” and said the former Japanese prime minister is a “truly great man” and “a true friend of mine and…America.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted he was “utterly appalled and saddened” by news of the “despicable attack.
European Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter he was “shocked and saddened” by the “cowardly attack” on Abe, who he called a “true friend, fierce defender of multilateral order & democratic values.”
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov expressed his condolences and said he did not know the reason behind the assassination attempt, adding “there will probably be an investigation.”
This is a developing story
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/07/08/shocked-and-saddened-world-leaders-react-to-shooting-of-shinzo-abe/