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Chinese youth dress as Shinzo Abe's killer, ‘celebrates’ former Japan PM's death

The youth in China are creating short videos for social media, posing and dressing like the shooter in order to set a trend to hail the shooter who killed Abe.

Published on: Jul 21, 2022, 07:16:03 IST
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Some youngsters from China - in a trend - are reportedly mimicking former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's shooter on Chinese social media - allegedly celebrating the former PM's assassination. Reportedly, the youth consider it “fun to dress and strike pose the same way as the killer”.

Chinese youth dress as Shinzo Abe's killer, ‘celebrates’ former Japan PM's death (ANI)
Chinese youth dress as Shinzo Abe's killer, ‘celebrates’ former Japan PM's death (ANI)

The youth in China are creating short videos for social media, posing and dressing like the shooter in order to set a trend to hail the shooter who killed Abe, reported news agency ANI. Meanwhile, soon after the attack on Abe, anti-Japan posts on Chinese social media circulated, calling the killer Tetsuya Yamagami a "hero".

On July 8, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe died hours after he was shot during a campaign event by a 41-year-old resident of Nara City Tetsuya Yamagami. Abe was shot while he was delivering a campaign speech.

Also read: ‘My Friend, Abe San’: PM Modi pens heartfelt tribute to ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe

Yamagami - who made no attempt to run away after shooting Abe twice from close range with a homemade shotgun - told police he wanted to attack the leader of a religious group that he claimed had defrauded his mother. The killer further admitted to visiting other locations where Abe spoke.

Also read: Shinzo Abe assassination: Biden, Brazilian prez mourn ex-Japan PM's death | highlights

Shortly after he was taken into custody, police raided Yamagami's home in Nara and recovered explosive materials and homemade guns. According to the local media, the accused is a former member of his country's Maritime Self-Defence Force where he served for three years till 2005.

The ties between Japan and China have been tense due to the territorial disputes in the East China Sea. Abe had also continuously expressed his support for Taiwan's participation in the regional trade pact Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) - creating more tensions with China.

(With ANI inputs)

  • Poulomi Ghosh
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Poulomi Ghosh

    Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi.

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