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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said today that he will not back down in the face of violence and will continue his election campaign to ensure "free and fair elections" for the upper house of parliament this Sunday, the Kyodo news agency reported, quoted by BTA.

Kishida told reporters he was shocked by the death of his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who was shot earlier today during a campaign speech and later died.

The Japanese prime minister added that such barbaric acts cannot be tolerated and stressed that elections are the foundation of democracy.

The attacker, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, was arrested at the scene.

He is an ex-serviceman from the naval units of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

In his first testimony, he stated that he did not like Abe's politics and behavior.

During a search of Yamagami's home, police found explosives.

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