Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot from close range at a political event on Friday, raising concerns about the safety of high-profile politicians in a country where political violence and gun crimes are relatively unusual.

Dignitaries in Japan frequently travel with minimal security forces focused primarily on immediate physical threats, rather than being protected by highly armed guards as seen in locations such as the United States.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot at a political rally on Friday, raising fears about the safety of high-profile politicians in a country where political violence and gun crimes are uncommon.

Instead of being secured by heavily armed guards, dignitaries in Japan usually travel with minimum security personnel concentrating largely on urgent physical threats, as seen in places such as the United States.