Shinzo Abe was addressing an election meeting ahead of Sunday s polling for the Upper House of the Parliament. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots at the site following which Abe collapsed. Police said that a male suspect, believed to be in his late 30s, was arrested at the scene.
September 26, 2006: Abe becomes Japan’s prime minister for the first time, overseeing economic reforms while taking a hard line on North Korea and seeking to engage with South Korea and China.