Tokyo, July 8: Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe collapsed and was bleeding after apparently being shot during a campaign speech in western Japan, NHK public television said Friday. NHK says Abe was bleeding when he collapsed and was rushed to a hospital.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in Nara. Shinzo Abe, Former Japan PM, Shot at in City of Nara: Reports.

He was standing while making an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday's election for the parliament's upper house.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)