MOSCOW, Jul 8 International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said , deeply shocked by the attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. «I am deeply shocked by this cowardly attack on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. My thoughts are with him. I hope and pray that he recovers,» Bach is quoted as saying IOC Twitter page. The attack on Shinzo Abe was committed around 11.30 local time (05.30 Moscow time) in the Japanese city of Nara during his street performance. According to Japanese media, citing law enforcement agencies and sources in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Abe was shot twice from behind. The politician fell after the second shot. Police said Abe was conscious immediately after being wounded, but then, during transportation, his condition became critical, «with cardiac and pulmonary arrest.» Shinzo Abe is currently at the Nara Prefectural University Hospital. In November 2020, Abe was awarded the Golden Olympic Order, the highest honor of the Olympic Movement. As prime minister of Japan, Abe helped Tokyo win the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics in 2013. Abe expected to host the Tokyo Olympics during his premier term, but the Games were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
