Shinzo Abe shooting: All you need to know about the attacker

NEW DELHI: Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at a campaign event on Friday, local media reports confirmed.

The attack took place at around 11.30am in Japan's western region of Nara, while Abe was delivering a a stump speech at an event ahead of Sunday's upper house elections.

Immediately after, a 42-year-old man was detained as a suspect in connection with the shock shooting.



Here is all we know about the suspected shooter:

* Yamagami Tetsuya, believed to be the shooter is a former maritime self defence force member

* The man is in his 40's struck the former prime minister from behind

* He fired two shots at Abe - one struck his left chest and the other hit his neck

* The twin gunshots made Abe collapse to ground and smeared his shirt with blood

* The shooter used a handmade gun to attack Abe

* Police have arrested the man for 'attempted murder'

* He had quit from the self defence force in 2005

Shinzo Abe shooting live updates

(With inputs from agencies)