Body of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe returns to Tokyo

The body of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was returned to Tokyo on Saturday, a day after he was assassinated by a military veteran.

He was attacked in the city of Nara in western Japan. Following the attack he was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed after massive blood loss due to his injuries.

Police arrested the attacker, a former member of Japan’s navy, at the scene on suspicion of murder. According to an AFP report, the 41-year-old has confessed to killing the former premier and said to be motivated by a belief Abe was linked to an unspecified organisation.

Abe was delivering a speech in Nara ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections when he was shot, and campaigning resumed Saturday.