Shinzo Abe was renowned for his economic policies and nationalistic bent, but his legacy also includes an association with conservative religious groups and there is some evidence it is this reputation that made him a target.

His alleged assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, sought out Mr Abe, researched campaign events he would be at, made a gun, and, on Friday afternoon, shot and killed the political giant.

Yamagami, 41, told Japanese police his mother was a member of a religious organisation and their family had been financially ruined after she made a “huge donation”, Japanese media reported, citing police sources.