President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent a message of condolence to Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, following the passing of the country's former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, after having succumbed to injuries sustained in a terrible shooting incident that occurred on Friday morning, in Nara City, Japan.

In his message, the President of Maldives expressed how deeply saddened he was by the passing away of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after having succumbed to his injuries sustained in the terrible incident this morning.

President Solih highlighting that Shinzo Abe’s legacy as a strong leader in Japan, and a supporter for greater global cooperation will be one of his defining moments.

Highlighting the former Prime Minister as a close friend of the Maldives, President Solih stated that Maldives and Japan were able to establish an unprecedented level of cooperation both economically and politically during his tenure.

President Solih concluded his message of condolences by expressing condolences to the family of Shinzo Abe, the Government and the friendly people of Japan on this sad occasion, on behalf of all Maldivians.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader, died on Friday hours after he was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election, shocking a country in which political violence is rare and guns are tightly controlled.

A man opened fire on Abe, 67, from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara, Japanese media reported.

It was the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese premier since the days of prewar militarism in 1936.

Doctors struggled to save Abe but he died at 5:03 p.m. (0803 GMT), about five and a half hours after being shot.

He bled to death from two deep wounds, one on the right side of his neck, a doctor told a nationally televised news conference. The former leader had no vital signs when he was taken-in.

Speaking before Abe's death was announced, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the shooting in the "strongest terms" while Japanese people and world leaders expressed shock.

"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections - the very foundation of our democracy - and is absolutely unforgivable," said Kishida, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Police said a 41-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting had been arrested. NHK quoted the suspect, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, as telling police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.