Shinzo Abe death live updates: Shinzo Abe's body arrives in Tokyo, funeral on Tuesday

A top police official on Saturday acknowledged possible security lapses that allowed an assassin to fire his gun into former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while he was addressing a campaign rally, raising questions how could the attacker get so close behind him.

A day after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, a steady stream of mourners, many in tears, arrived at the scene of his murder in western Japan to offer flowers and prayers. People from all walks of life formed a long line on Saturday on the otherwise ordinary street outside a train station where Abe was shot while campaigning ahead of weekend elections.

Police are continuing the interrogation of Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old resident of Nara City, in western Japan who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of Abe. A gun that appeared to be handmade was retrieved from the site where Abe was campaigning for a candidate ahead of Sunday's elections for Japan's upper house of Parliament.

The body of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived at his home city, Tokyo, on Saturday, a day after he was fatally assassinated during a campaign speech in the western Japan city of Nara. Local media has reported that a night vigil will be held on Monday and his funeral will be held on Tuesday.

The man who fatally shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told police that he initially planned to attack a leader of a religious group, the Japanese media reported on Saturday, quoting police sources as saying.Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, has also said he had a grudge against a "specific organisation" -- possibly the religious group -- that he believed was linked to Abe, Kyodo News reported, quoting the police. The religious leader was not identified in the report.

The Yomiuri and other Japanese media at PM Kishida's first campaign event since the assassination described a tense mood and high levels of security, with a metal fence put up to separate the leader from the crowd.

US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and discussed how Abe Shinzo's legacy will live on as they continue the important task of defending peace and democracy, the White House has said.During the conversation, Biden expressed his outrage, sadness and deep condolences after former Japanese leader Abe's assassination, it said. “The President underscored that he and the American people stand with the Prime Minister and the people of Japan in their time of mourning,” said a readout of the call on Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message of condolence to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over the death of former leader Shinzo Abe, state media reported."On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and in his own name, Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences over the untimely death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and condolences to his relatives," state broadcaster CCTV said, adding Xi was "deeply saddened by his sudden passing."

Police in Japan have said that a 90-member task force will be set up to investigate the murder case of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who died after being shot at while addressing an election campaign rally in Nara city. The police said that they will review the security arrangement that had been in place while Abe was delivering his speech on Friday morning near the Yamatosaidaiji Station in Nara. Officials also admitted that they had learned about the late leader's visit to Nara only the previous evening.

Japan on Saturday mourned the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, whose body was being moved to Tokyo from the western town where he was gunned down at close range on the campaign trail. Shortly before 6:00 am (2100 GMT), a funeral hearse carrying Abe's wife Akie and believed to be transporting the former leader's body left the hospital in Kashihara, western Japan where he was treated.