Japan's longest-serving prime minister was assassinated at the age of 67 while giving a campaign speech for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the western city of Nara. The assassination of Mr. Abe has shocked Japan - a country with one of the lowest gun crime rates in the world due to its extremely strict gun control laws.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo just before his assassination. Photo: asahi.com/TTXVN

In parallel with the investigation into the perpetrator Yamagami Tetsuya, Prime Minister Kishida's administration also conducted an investigation into the Unification Church - which is believed to have close ties to many LDP members - paving the way for a court request to consider stripping the organization of its religious group status due to financial violations.

HIEN MINH