Thursday, the head of Japan’s National Police Agency said he was stepping down because of “shortcomings” in the security plans for Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister who was killed.
Abe was shot and killed on July 8 in the city of Nara in western Japan. He was the most well-known politician in the country and had been prime minister for the longest time.
Itaru Nakamura told reporters, “There were flaws in the security plans and the risk assessments that they were based on. Also, the field commander did not give enough direction.” “The problem comes from the fact that the current system, which has been in place for years, puts all the responsibility for security on the local police.”
Nakamura said he would step down as police chief and take responsibility for the mistakes. “We’ve decided to switch up our staff and start over with our security duties,” he told the National Public Safety Commission when he gave his resignation today.
The person who is thought to have killed Abe was caught at the scene. He is thought to have done it because he thought Abe was connected to the Unification Church.
Local police in the area where Abe was killed had already said that there were “undeniable” problems with his security, which was not very tight on the day he was killed.
Thursday, the Nara police chief also quit with tears in his eyes. In its report, the National Police Agency said that areas south of where Abe spoke were not properly guarded, so the shooter could have gotten there.
If there had been enough security staff there, “it is thought very likely that this incident could have been avoided,” the report said.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.