Tokyo: Head of Japan’s National Police Agency announced his resignation after an investigation confirmed “shortcomings” in security plans for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe, country’s best-known politician and longest-serving premier was shot and killed while delivering a stump speech on July 8 in city of Nara in western Japan.

“There were shortcomings in security plans and risk assessments on which they were based and direction from field commander was insufficient,” Itaru Nakamura told reporters. “Root of this problem lies in limitations of current system, which has been in place for years, in which local police bear sole responsibility for providing security.” Nakamura said he would take responsibility for failings and step down from his post as police chief. “We have decided to shake up our personnel and start afresh with our security duties and that’s why I tendered my resignation to National Public Safety Commission,” he said. Abe’s suspected killer was detained at scene and is believed to have targeted politician because he thought he was linked to Unification Church. National Police Agency’s report said areas south of podium from which Abe spoke were not properly guarded, leaving a route open for shooter to approach. If adequate security personnel had been in place there, “it is deemed highly probable that this incident could have been prevented”, report concluded. Man suspected of killing Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami is believed to have fired two shots from a handmade weapon. But police report found officials at scene did not immediately realise sound made by first shot was caused by a gun, “leading to delays in their coming to his (Abe’s) defence”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 26 2022

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