On television and social media, there are numerous videos of the gunman walking unobstructed past security before pointing a large, handmade gun in the direction of Mr. Abe. The first shot seemed to startle the former leader and, a few seconds later, a second shot was fired and Mr. Abe collapsed to the ground. At that point, a group of men who appeared to be part of his security detail tackled the gunman to the ground.
The graphic footage has raised questions about why the gunman was able to approach from behind the riser where Mr. Abe was speaking and how, after the first shot, he was able to fire a second before security officers stopped him.
Toshio Tamogami, the chief of staff for Japan’s Air Force, seemed to ask the question that was on the country’s mind.
“How did the police, protective detail and other security not notice the criminal who approached with a gun from behind?” he wrote on Twitter.
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