Japan’s National Police commissioner on Thursday announced his resignation in the wake of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination in July.
At a Tokyo news conference, Itaru Nakamura, citing major public events such as Abe’s state funeral next month and a G-7 meeting in Hiroshima next May, told reporters he believes a security plan is needed to prevent an incident like the assassination from happening again.
Abe was shot and killed on July 8 at a campaign rally in the western city of Nara by an assailant using a homemade gun. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, was arrested at the scene moments after the shooting and is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.
Experts have said security at the event was seriously flawed, and that bodyguards could have saved Abe by shielding or pulling him from the line of fire in the 2.5 seconds between a missed first shot and the second, fatal round of gunfire.
Nara prefectural police chief Tomoaki Onizuka also announced his resignation on Thursday. It was also announced that three other Nara police executives are expected to face disciplinary measures, including pay cuts.
Nakamura said his resignation would be considered at the next Cabinet meeting, which Japanese media reports indicate will be Friday.
