Just before 8 o’clock this evening, it is reported, the Mayor of Nagasaki, Iccho Ito was shot twice in the back by a man who was subdued and arrested at the scene. Mr Ito suffered heart failure and is in a critical condition in hospital.

Kyodo is reporting

The alleged shooter, Tetsuya Shiroo, 59, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, the police said, adding he is believed to be a member of a gang affiliated with Japan’s largest organized crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi. The motive is unknown.

The Mainichi also has details of the story, which they will no doubt update as and when.

This is just surreal, particularly bearing in mind today’s news from the U.S. It’s not, however, the first time a Nagasaki mayor has been shot. In 1990, Motoshima Hitoshi was shot by a right-wing extremist for saying in a speech that Emperor Hirohito was partially to blame for World War II.

Update: It has been reported and confirmed that Ito Iccho has died of his wounds. Ito died early in the morning. He was on life support after undergoing an emergency operation. But public broadcaster NHK reported early Wednesday morning local time that Ito died of his injuries.