Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe ‘shot’ while giving speech, according to reports

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot during a speech in the city of Nara, according to reports

Public broadcaster NHK reported that a sound like a gunshot was heard at the time, and a male suspect has been detained.

According to the national broadcaster, the 67-year-old went into cardiac arrest after collapsing.

One of the channel’s reporters said he was shot in the chest and that she saw him fall down, bleeding.

NHK aired footage showing Mr Abe collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him.

He was standing while making an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday’s election for the parliament’s upper house.