Assassinated former Japanese prime minister was close friend to Canada: Trudeau

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a gunman who opened fire during his campaign speech.

The 67-year-old was assassinated Friday on a street in western Japan by a gunman who opened fire behind him.

A double-barrelled device that appeared to be a handmade gun was seen on the ground.

He was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Nara. Officials say he was pronounced dead after receiving massive blood transfusions.

Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader when he resigned in 2020.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the assassination of the Japanese leader is “shocking,” and that Canada has “lost a close friend” with his death.

“The assassination of (Abe) is incredibly shocking — and I’m deeply saddened,” Trudeau said on Twitter on Friday.

“The world has lost a great man of vision, and Canada has lost a close friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Akie, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You’ll be missed, my friend.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, attending the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia, said she expressed Canada’s condolences to Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

“We are saddened and horrified by the recent news coming from Japan,” she said.

In a statement released by the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was “stunned, outraged and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former prime minister of Japan, was shot and killed while campaigning.”