TOKYO (AFP) – The head of Japan’s National Police Agency announced his resignation yesterday after an investigation confirmed “shortcomings” in the security plans for assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Abe, the country’s best-known politician and longest-serving premier, was shot and killed while delivering a stump speech on July 8 in the city of Nara in western Japan.
“There were shortcomings in the security plans and the risk assessments on which they were based, and direction from the field commander was insufficient,” Itaru Nakamura told reporters.
“The root of this problem lies in the limitations of the current system, which has been in place for years, in which local police bear sole responsibility for providing security.”
Nakamura said he would take responsibility for the failings and step down from his post as police chief.
“We have decided to shake up our personnel and start afresh with our security duties, and that’s why I tendered my resignation to the National Public Safety Commission today,” he said.
Abe’s suspected killer was detained at the scene and is believed to have targetted the politician because he thought he was linked to the Unification Church.
