Police have launched a murder investigation into the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but little is known about the suspect who was arrested Friday at the scene of the deadly shooting.
Who is the suspect: Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, has admitted to shooting Abe, Nara Nishi police said at a news conference on Friday. Yamagami, who is unemployed, told investigators he harbors hatred of a particular group he believed Abe was involved with. Police have not named the group.
What kind of gun was fired: The suspect used a homemade handgun in the shooting, police said, and footage of the scene showed what appeared to be a weapon with two cylindrical metal barrels wrapped in black tape. Authorities later seized several handcrafted gun-like items from the suspect’s apartment.
The weapon was a weapon-like object 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long and 20 centimeters wide, police said.
Yamagami made multiple types of weapons with iron pipes wrapped in adhesive tape, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, citing police. Police found guns with three, five and six iron barrels.
The suspect put bullets in the pipe, for which he had bought parts online, according to the police, according to NHK. Police believe the suspect used the strongest weapon he made in the murder, NHK added.
Security probe: Japan’s national police station said it will review security arrangements made before Friday’s shooting, NHK said. Security was provided by the Nara Prefectural Police, who prepared a security plan for the former prime minister while he was in the city.
The agency said several dozen officers and security personnel from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police were on duty and reportedly watched Abe from all sides during his speech, NHK said.