Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been taken to hospital after being shot while delivering a speech in the city of Nara.

Public broadcaster NHK reports Mr Abe collapsed around 11.30am, believed to have gone into cardiac arrest, and has been taken to hospital.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the shooting of Mr Abe as “barbaric.”

There are mixed reports on his condition.

The BBC reports two shots were fired, one striking Mr Abe in the back.

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