Gunman Admits Killing Ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
The man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has confessed to the killing, admitting he targeted the country’s longest-serving leader out of anger toward a religious group he believed had ties to Abe.
During court proceedings in Nara District Court, Tetsuya Yamagami, 43, told prosecutors that he shot Abe in July 2022 because he believed the former prime minister was linked to the Unification Church, a group Yamagami claimed had “destroyed” his family financially through heavy donations.
Abe was shot while delivering a campaign speech outside a train station in Nara — a shocking act of violence in a nation known for its extremely low gun crime. The homemade weapon Yamagami used was crafted from metal pipes and electrical tape.
In his statement, Yamagami expressed “no regret” over the act but offered “apologies to those hurt indirectly”, including bystanders and Abe’s security detail.
The confession came as prosecutors pushed for a severe sentence, arguing that the killing was premeditated and politically destabilizing. However, Yamagami’s defense team is seeking leniency, citing mental distress and social frustration caused by his family’s ruin due to the religious group’s alleged exploitation.
The assassination led to intense public scrutiny of the Unification Church’s influence on Japanese politics, prompting several lawmakers, including members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), to sever ties with the organization.
Abe’s death also sparked a national debate over gun control, political transparency, and security protocols for public officials.
The verdict in Yamagami’s case is expected later this year, with analysts predicting a life imprisonment sentence if the court acknowledges his full criminal responsibility.
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