Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot in chest, one in custody

TOKYO: Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe is showing no vital signs after being taken to hospital following an apparent attack at a campaign event in the Nara region, Japanese media reported.

Abe was seen bleeding and the reporter present at the site heard something that sounded like a gunshot.

A man was arrested for attempted murder after the former prime minister was shot on Friday while delivering a speech.

WATCH: Bystanders rush to help former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after he is shotpic.twitter.com/vgk7fn323p

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The man appeared to be in his 40s and a gun had been confiscated, said public broadcaster NHK, citing police sources. Local police were not immediately able to comment when contacted by AFP.

Soon after the attack, Abe was rushed to hospital and appeared to be in cardo-respiratory arrest, NHK and Kyodo reported. Cardo-respiratory arrest is a term used in Japan indicating no vital signs, and generally preceding a formal certification of death by a coroner.

Shinzo Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party told the Jiji news agency.