Donald Trump calls for Shinzo Abe’s killer to be dealt with ‘swiftly and harshly’ as he leads world leaders in expressing shock over the former Japanese PM’s assassination

• World leaders mourn killing of ‘unifier like no other’ and ‘leader in the Indo-Pacific’ who died after ‘heinous act of violence’ in usually peaceful country
• Japan’s best-known politician bled to death after being shot in the neck and heart by navy veteran using homemade gun
• Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, was arrested at the scene and police say he has since confessed to the shooting 
• Shinzo Abe was well-known amongst world leaders whom he met throughout his nine years in power leaving legacy ‘like no other’

Donald Trump has declared that Shinzo Abe’s killer must be dealt with ‘swiftly and harshly’ as world figures voiced their shock over the former Japanese PM’s death today. 

Trump said his assassination is ‘Really BAD NEWS FOR THE WORLD!’ after Japan’s longest serving PM was shot to death while delivering a campaign speech in the city of Nara in western Japan.

Trump crowned Abe a ‘unifier like no other […] who loved and cherished his magnificent country. Abe will be ‘greatly missed’ according to the former president who called him a ‘true friend of mine’.

Shinzo Abe shakes hands with the former US President Donald Trump during talks at trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida back in 2018. The former American President said Abe was a ‘unifier like no other’ who ‘loved and cherished his magnificent country’ 

Donald Trump reacts to the shocking assassination of Shinzo Abe in online statement which laments the death of a ‘truly great man and leader’. Abe was shot on Friday by a crowd member while delivering a campaign speech in the city of Nara

Trump has played golf with the former Japanese leader and hosted him in his Florida resort, Mar-a-lago. Trump says he is praying for Shinzo and his beautiful family.

Donald Trump (left) and Shinzo Abe (right) wave while playing golf at Mobara Country Club in Mobara, Japan in 2019. Trump says Abe will be ‘greatly missed’ following his sudden death

Tributes from more world leaders have poured in following the tragic announcement after doctors spent hours desperately trying to save Abe who was shot in the neck and heart.

Boris Johnson (left) and Shinzo Abe (right) conversing at bilateral talks at the G7 Summit back in 2019 held in Biarritz, France. Johnson says his thoughts are with [Abe’s] family, friends and the Japanese people during this ‘dark and sad time’

British PM, Boris Johnson expressed his dismay on Twitter and praised Abe’s ‘global leadership through unchartered times’.

“Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe,” Johnson said on Twitter. 

“His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people.” 

“The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.”

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, shared a full statement to Twitter following the announcement, citing Abe as ‘one of Australia’s closest friends’.

“The tragic death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is devastating news…Mr Abe was one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage… Under his leadership Japan emerged as one of Australia’s most like-minded partners in Asia – a legacy that endures today.

“Mr Abe was a leader in the Indo-Pacific, championing a vision of a free and open region. The Quad and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are in many ways the results of his diplomatic leadership.

“Mr Abe was also a giant on the world stage“ a leader in the G7, the G20 and the United Nations. His legacy was one of global impact, and a profound and positive one for Australia.”

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shared his ‘deepest condolences’ after the ‘heinous act of violence’.

‘Horrible news of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I am extending my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse.’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before their meeting in Tokyo in 2019. Zelensky said this ‘heinous act of violence has no excuse’

French president, Emmanuel Macron, also joined tributes.

‘On behalf of the French people, I send my condolences to the Japanese authorities and people after the assassination of Shinzo Abe.’

‘Japan is losing a great Prime Minister, who dedicated his life to his country and worked to bring balance to the world.’

France’s President Emmanuel Macron stands shoulder to shoulder with Shinzo Abe during an official ceremony at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo in 2019

The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, shared this reaction on Twitter.

‘I am deeply shocked by the news of the assassination of @AbeShinzo,”

“My thoughts are with the family of our Japanese friend who was always very kind to Poland. May he Rest In Peace.

Germany is at Japan’s side, a German government spokesperson said in response to news that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on Friday hours after he was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election. 

Abe was shot by Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, a navy veteran, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Police say he has since confessed, telling them he wanted to kill Abe because he was ‘frustrated’ with him. Yamagami allegedly used a homemade shotgun

The current Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, called the shooting an attack on ‘the foundation of democracy’, describing it as ‘heinous’, ‘barbaric and malicious’, and ‘absolutely unforgivable’. 

‘I would like to use the most extreme words available to condemn this act,’ he added.

The shooting is a deeply shocking end to the life of Japan’s best-known politician.

The country prides itself on its low levels of violent crime and has extremely tough gun laws making this incident even more shocking and unexpected.

‘A giant of the world stage’ Shinzo Abe met a host of current and former global leader during his nine years in power

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