In a statment posted on its Twitter account, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Abe as well as to the government and people of Japan.

The ministry recalled its appreciation of the remarkable roles played by Abe as one of the most influential and charismatic leaders at the global level as the longest serving prime minister of Japan.

It also noted his pivotal role as a true friend of Saudi Arabia in further strengthening the bonds of friendly relations and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The ministry also condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly and barbaric criminal act that contravenes all human and ethical values, leading to the demise of a great global leader. It expressed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with the government and people of Japan in this hour of grief and sadness.

Abe was shot from about 3 meters behind during a campaign event in the city of Nara on Friday, ahead of a parliamentary election this weekend. The attack stunned a nation where political violence and guns are extremely rare.