Deeply distressed by the attack: PM Modi, Trump and other world leaders pray for ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe's recovery

New Delhi: World leaders expressed shock and anguish over Friday’s shooting of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech and prayed for his quick recovery. Abe was shot in western Japan and airlifted to a hospital. Officials said he was not breathing and his heart had stopped. Police have arrested a suspected gunman at the scene. The attack was a shock in one of the world’s safest countries with some of the strictest gun control laws. QUAD nations: India, US and Australia Leaders of QUAD nations which include India, US and Australia apart from Japan reacted with concern and prayed for Abe’s speedy recovery. “Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US was “deeply saddened and deeply concerned" over the attempted killing of Abe. “We don’t know his condition. We do know that apparently he’s been shot. Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan. This is a very, very sad moment," he said on the sidelines of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations meeting on Indonesia’s Bali island. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted: “Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time." Asian leaders Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong slammed it as a “senseless act of violence." “Mr. Abe is a good friend of Singapore. I had just hosted him to lunch in May, on my visit to Tokyo. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Abe and his family," Lee said on Facebook. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said he learned the news with great shock and dismay. “I extend my deep sympathy and pray for his early recovery,” he said. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who is in Bali as president of the G-20, conveyed the G-20 foreign ministers’ “deepest sympathies and our prayers for the speedy recovery" of Abe. Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he was saddened and shocked. “The government and people of Malaysia are praying for his speedy recovery and for his family to be given strength to endure this tragedy,” he tweeted. United Kingdom UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “appalled” by the shooting. “Utterly appalled and saddened to hear about the despicable attack on Shinzo Abe,” he tweeted. France The French embassy in Japan expressed concern over the “hateful” attack, saying its thoughts were with Abe and his loved ones. “The French Embassy has learned with emotion and dismay of the hateful attack on former prime minister Shinzo Abe in Nara,” the mission said on Twitter. Russia  “We pray for the health of the former prime minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe,” the Russian embassy in Japan said in a Facebook post. “We strongly condemn the barbaric attempt on his life.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Bali that he had “offered condolences” to his Japanese counterpart.   New Zealand New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was in Sydney meeting with Albanese on Friday, said she was “deeply shocked.” “He was one of the first leaders I formally met when I became Prime Minister. He was deeply committed to his role, and also generous and kind. I recall him asking after the recent loss of our pet when I met him, a small gesture but one that speaks to the kind of person he is," Ardern said. “My thoughts are with his wife and the people of Japan. Events like this shake us all to the core.” Former PMs & Presidents Former PMs and Presidents condemned the appalling attack on Abe, who was the longest-serving prime minister in Japan. He led Japan from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 before stepping down in 2020 due to poor health. Former US President Donald Trump said the attack on Abe was devastating. He described Abe as a “truly great man and leader” and said he “was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly, America.” “This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much. We are all praying for Shinzo and his beautiful family!” Trump said on his social media app. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said “an attack on any democratically elected political leader in the world is an attack on supporters of democracy everywhere." “Shinzo Abe has been a dynamic political leader of Japan over many years, and we all hope that he will recover and resume his important responsibilities in the Diet,” Rudd said on Facebook. Two other former Australian Prime Ministers, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, reacted in disbelief. Abott called it a “shocking act of violence" and Turnbull said he was horrified. They both expressed hope and prayers that Abe will pull through. Former US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien paid tribute to Abe as a “towering figure in Japan and the entire Indo-Pacific." “May God bless him with a full recovery," he said. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News , Trending News ,  Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.