New details have emerged about Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, who was assassinated earlier this month

Japanese authorities believe bodyguards could have saved Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe if they shielded him from gunfire.

They have narrowed the point of impact to 2.5 seconds between an initial first shot and a second round of gunfire, which killed the 67-year-old leader.

Eight security experts have reportedly reviewed footage of the assassination, which occurred on 8 July while Abe was speaking at a campaign event in the western city of Nara.

According to reports from Reuters, there were a series of security lapses, which ultimately led to the death of Japan’s longest-serving leader.

It is understood the 41-year-old assailant came within seven metres of Abe before firing his first shot.

He then fired a second shot, which hit Abe from a distance of five metres.

The alleged perpetrator remains in police custody. It is understood he held a grudge against Abe, but police have remained tight-lipped about his links to a potential religious organisation.

Who was Shinzo Abe?

Te 67-year-old remains the country’s longest serving prime minister, after leading his Liberal Democratic Party to victory twice.

After a scandal-plagued first term, Abe made a political comeback in 2012, and stayed in power until 2020 when he resigned for health reasons.

Abe was a conservative, who was often described as a ‘right-wing nationalist’ by political commentators.

He sought to change Japan’s pacifist constitution, and was considered the father of the Quad Alliance between Japan, the U.S., India and Australia.