Attack on Japan ex-PM: Shinzo Abe shot, injured during election speech in Nara, say reports

In a distressing incident, Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was apparently shot and injured on 8 July.

Abe was making an election campaign speech when he collapsed, and witnesses heard gunshots, as per NHK public television. Abe was bleeding when he was rushed to a hospital, as per reports.

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Unverified visuals on social media showed a growing crowd on a street as some people apparently tended to a person on the ground.

Reports suggested that a suspect had also been detained. The incident occurred in Nara city at around 11:30 am local time.

Japan is headed to elections for its parliament's Upper House on July 10.