UPDATE - Turkish president condoles passing of Japan’s ex-premier

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish president on Friday condoled the death of Japan’s former prime minister.

“I feel great sadness over the death of my valuable friend Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime minister, after an armed attack,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.

He condemned assailants that carried out this “hideous” attack.

Erdogan also conveyed condolences to Abe’s family, loved ones, the Japanese public, and the government.

Türkiye’s Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop also expressed his “deep sadness” over the loss of Abe.

“I express condolences to the Japanese public and the family of Abe, who greatly contributed to the development of relations between Japan and Türkiye,” he said, also condemning the “hideous” attack.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that Ankara is “deeply saddened to learn that the former Prime Minister of Japan Abe Shinzo has lost his life as a result of a heinous armed attack today.”

“We extend our sincere condolences to his family as well as to the friendly people and Government of Japan.”

Japan’s influential politician Abe succumbed to his injuries on Friday after being shot at an election campaign event.

Authorities at a hospital in Japan's western Nara city told a news conference: “Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, succumbed to his injuries."

He died at 5.03 p.m. (0803GMT), the official added.

The former prime minister was treated for over five hours but doctors could not save his life.

Abe sustained injuries on the right side of his neck when a 41-year-old assailant opened fire on him during an event in the city of Nara early on Friday.

Fumio Kishida, the incumbent prime minister, earlier told a news conference in Tokyo that Abe was “in critical condition” and doctors were “working very hard” to handle the situation.

Abe, 67, was delivering a speech at a political event on a street in the western city of Nara when he was "shot from behind” by a person who has now been arrested.

The incident, termed "deplorable" by the government spokesperson, took place at around 11.30 a.m. local time (0230GMT).