Japan’s National Police Chief Announces Resignation Over Assassination Of Ex-Prime Minister

After an investigation revealed flaws in the security arrangements for the assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe, Itaru Nakamura, the head of Japan’s National Police Agency, announced his resignation.

Nakamura said he would accept responsibility for the former Prime Minister’s murder while announcing his resignation to reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters.

He also mentioned that the organization and its security responsibilities needed a “fresh start.”

According to Itaru, “the security plans and the risk assessments on which they were based had flaws, and the field commander’s guidance was insufficient.”

“We have realized that our security responsibilities would need a fresh start as we work to verify our new security plan,” Nakamura continued.

It is only natural for us to create a new organization, he said, “to mark our fresh start with a new security plan.”

The most senior official to resign in relation to Abe’s murder on July 8 at a campaign rally in the western city of Nara, where experts have alleged that security was appalling, is Itaru Nakamura.

In addition, Tomoaki Onizuka, the police chief of Nara, quit.

At a press conference, he said, “I am painfully aware of my responsibility for causing a serious situation as the chief of police with security responsibility in this prefecture.

Security issues surrounding Abe’s appearance at the election campaign event have been acknowledged by Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

In a previous statement to Reuters, the National Police Agency said that the killing was caused by police failing to carry out their duty. It also said that a team had been formed to review security and protection protocols and develop preventative measures.

The suspected assassin was detained at the scene shortly after the shooting, and Japanese media reported last month that he was being evaluated by a psychiatrist.