Former PM Shinzo Abe has died following an assassination attempt, NHK reported, citing officials.

As previously reported, Abe was shot during his speech in the city of Nara. The politician was taken to the hospital by helicopter. He was wounded in the chest area, later it was reported that he was wounded in the neck.

The shooter is a 41-year-old local resident, Tetsuya Yamagami, who was previously a member of the country's maritime self-defense forces. He was detained immediately after he fired several shots at Abe. According to local press reports, he wanted to kill Abe because he was dissatisfied with his policies.