Japan's Shinzo Abe - Assassination

How it happened. What it means. A stronger Japanese military to face China.

The popular former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, a titan of Japanese politics, and the architect of Japan's recent regional rise, was shot dead on Friday, while making a speech outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara, Japan.

Many called it Japan’s JFK moment likening his assassination to that of JFK's killing in 1963.

This is shocking in a country in which political violence is rare and guns are tightly controlled.

A suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, a former member of Japan’s Maritime Defense Force, has been arrested in connection with the incident, which involved a homemade gun.

Japanese police have admitted there were flaws in the security for former Japanese Prime Minister.

Nara prefectural police chief Tomoaki Onizuka said Abe's assassination was his "greatest regret" in a 27-year career.