Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister of Japan, passed away on Friday after being shot at a political rally in Nara's western area.
Fumio Kishida, the prime minister, left the campaign route and took a chopper to Tokyo.
Despite Japan's tight gun rules, the attack occurred as campaigning for Sunday's upper house elections was in full swing.
An image of a man being tackled to the ground by security was displayed as spectators and journalists dove for cover.
According to accounts, he was later detained on suspicion of trying to kill someone. Other broadcasters as well as the Japanese news organizations Jiji and Kyodo reported on the death.
According to police sources, local media identified the man as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, and some media outlets described him as a former member of the nation's maritime self-defense force.
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