Shinzo Abe Japan ex-leader assassinated

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe died in hospital after he was shot at a political campaign event.

Abe was shot twice while giving a speech on the street in the city of Nara on Friday morning.

Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman and a 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.

The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, admitted shooting Abe with a homemade gun, and said he had a grudge against a "specific organization", police said.

Several other handmade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, had been confiscated after a search of the suspect's house, police officers told a news conference.

Explosives were also found at the home and police said they had advised residents to evacuate the area.