Reports suggest the mother of the man accused of assassinating Shinzo Abe is a member of a South Korean-funded religious group
Known as the Unification Church, the suspect has previously cited this religious sect as a motive for his fatal shooting of the former PM.
The church confirmed his mother attends meetings about once a month.
The 41-year-old suspect has told investigators he initially intended to target the organisation’s leader, and had also intended to kill Abe.
He claims Abe promoted the church in Japan, and his mother made a “huge donation” to the church more than 20 years ago, crippling the family’s finances.
Police have confirmed the individual held a grudge against a specific organisation, but are yet to name it.
