North Rhine-Westphalia: Heads of state condole after the assassination of Abe

Düsseldorf/Tokio (dpa/lnw) - The deadly assassination attempt on Japan's ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also shook North Rhine-Westphalia.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Heads of state condole after the assassination of Abe

Düsseldorf/Tokio (dpa/lnw) - The deadly assassination attempt on Japan's ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also shook North Rhine-Westphalia. State President André Kuper expressed his shock. "North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Japan have been united for many decades by a firm belief in the strength of our democracies and the values ​​that underpin them," emphasized Kuper in a letter of condolence on Friday. "It is therefore unacceptable for us to fight words with weapons and opposing opinions with violence."

Abe, 67, was shot dead at a campaign rally in the city of Nara on Friday. Kuper conveyed his condolences to the Japanese people. According to the city of Düsseldorf, the largest Japanese community in Germany is at home here with more than 8,400 people.

Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) was also shocked and expressed "deep sympathy and solidarity in our country" on Twitter.