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

My association with Abe goes back many years. I had got to know him during my tenure as Gujarat CM and our friendship continued after I became PM. His sharp insights on economy and global affairs always made a deep impression on me: PM Modi

"As a mark of our deepest respect for former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe, one-day national mourning shall be observed on July 9," tweets PM Modi

Japan ex-prime minister Shinzo Abe died at 08.03 GMT: Nara Medical University Hospital doctor (Reuters)

"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections - the very foundation of our democracy - and is absolutely unforgivable," said Kishida, struggling to keep his emotions in check during the briefing earlier today.

Speaking before Abe's death was announced, Japan PM Fumio Kishida condemned the shooting in the "strongest terms" while Japanese people and world leaders expressed shock at the violence in a country in which political violence is rare and guns are tightly controlled.

Nara emergency services said Abe had been wounded on the right side of his neck and left clavicle.

The assassination of the country's best-known politician comes despite Japan's strict gun laws and with campaigning under way ahead of upper house elections on July 10.

Japan police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack, which shocked people in a country known as one of the world’s safest.

Shinzo Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down for health reasons in 2020.

Abe was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech on Friday in Nara, western Japan. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped.

"According to a senior LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67," NHK said. (AFP)

Abe, 67, had been delivering a stump speech near a train station in the western city of Nara when he was shot by an assailant.

Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has died: Reuters quoting public broadcaster NHK

According to Japan's NHK, several police officers wearing helmets and body armour and carrying protective shields entered a building identified by the broadcaster as the home of the man arrested for attempted murder of Shinzo Abe.

"We are convinced that those who planned and committed this monstrous crime will bear responsibility for this act of terrorism, which cannot be justified," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia on Friday called the attack on Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe 'monstrous' and an 'act of terrorism' after he was shot at a campaign event.

Police raid suspect's home after Abe shooting: AFP quoting Japan's NHK

Britain's new finance minister Nadhim Zahawi sent his condolences on Friday to Japan in the mistaken belief that former prime minister Shinzo Abe had died after being shot by an attacker, although Abe is still alive. Zahawi, appointed on Tuesday as the government of British prime minister Boris Johnson started to collapse, later deleted the tweet. (Reuters)