Investigative Sources: Suspect Gave Up Plan To Attack Abe In Okayama
The suspect in Friday's shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo reportedly says he went to a campaign venue in the western city of Okayama one day before, but gave up his plan to attack then because the venue was conducting admission procedures.
Abe was fatally shot as he was making a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Police arrested the 41-year-old suspect, Yamagami Tetsuya, an unemployed resident of the city.
Investigative sources had earlier quoted Yamagami as saying that he had been to other campaign sites, including Okayama on the previous day.
The suspect reportedly later told investigators that he was planning to kill the former prime minister in Okayama, but that he found it would be difficult because of the procedures at the entrance.
At the Okayama venue, attendees were supposed to write their names and addresses when entering. Sources said Yamagami apparently did not enter the venue as nothing was confirmed to have been written by him there.
Investigators say the suspect could have been waiting for an opportunity to kill the former prime minister for some time, looking for the right place.