"3-Second Gap After First Step, No Police Present"…Japanese Security System Under Scrutiny

Nihon Keizai, Sankei, and Other Local Media Criticize Police Response
About 2.5 to 3 Seconds Interval After First Shot, No Security Police Protecting Abe Seen

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hee-jong] Following the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese media outlets are criticizing the security team's inadequate response. Not only was security personnel improperly positioned behind Abe during his speech, but there was also a three-second gap between the first and second shots fired by the assailant, during which no active efforts were made to protect Abe. The incident has brought Japan's lax security system under intense scrutiny.

On the 10th, Japan's Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) newspaper published an article titled "3-Second Gap, Security Lapse," pointing out that "not only was a suspicious person allowed to approach, but no police officers were seen attempting to prevent the attack on former Prime Minister Abe during the approximately three seconds between the first and second shots," highlighting the shortcomings in security preparedness.

Videos circulating online of the shooting show that around 11:30 a.m. on the 8th, about two minutes after Abe began his speech holding a microphone, the suspect Tetsuya Yamagami (41) approached from behind to within 7 to 8 meters and fired the first shot.

At that moment, a white smoke and a loud explosion were heard. Abe turned around in surprise, and about three seconds later, a second gunshot rang out. Abe then collapsed on the spot.

The Nihon Keizai newspaper noted, "After the first shot, there was no visible attempt by police officers to knock down or shield Abe to prevent the second shot." However, it appears that one officer entered between the suspect and Abe using a bulletproof bag as a shield.

At the scene, it is reported that one Security Police (SP) officer from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and dozens of Nara Prefecture police officers were deployed. A Tokyo Metropolitan Police executive familiar with election security criticized the lack of prior preparation. According to Nara Prefecture police, Abe's campaign speech was hastily scheduled the day before, and the security plan was approved only on the morning of the event.

Immediately after the incident, Nara Prefecture police stated, "Although the security was sudden, there was sufficient time to prepare the deployment." However, footage from the scene shows that security behind Abe was inadequate.

A Tokyo Metropolitan Police executive told Nihon Keizai, "There was a problem with the deployment that allowed a person carrying a suspicious object to approach closely," and questioned, "Normally, blind spots at the speech venue and suspicious items would be thoroughly checked, but this time such measures may have been insufficient."

A former member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorism Special Assault Team (SAT), experienced in security duties, commented, "If you sense something unusual, the fundamental rule of close protection is to rush to the subject, lower your head, and evacuate immediately," criticizing the on-site response as insufficient.

Japan's Sankei Shimbun also reported that "there was no visible attempt to shield former Prime Minister Abe immediately after the first shot," noting that criticism is emerging within the police. The choice of a wide-open space as the speech venue was also pointed out as problematic.

Sankei Shimbun described the situation, saying, "Although white smoke spread with the gunfire, Abe did not appear to have sustained serious injuries at that time. Several security personnel turned toward the suspect and raised bulletproof bags but did not physically shield Abe."

The newspaper added, "The interval between the first and second shots was about two seconds. Although several officers apprehended the suspect, Abe collapsed."

In response, a police executive stated, "After the first shot, the security personnel should have taken charge of Abe and evacuated him from the scene. Since there was more than two seconds before the second shot, the worst outcome could have been prevented."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.