Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) sent their condolences about former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot and killed on Friday.

The 67-year-old Abe was at a campaign event in the Japanese city of Nara when he was shot by a 41-year-old man who used a homemade gun, according to local authorities.

Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister, having served in the role from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.

Finnish PM Marin sent her condolences in a message on Twitter.

"On behalf of the Finnish Government, I express my condolences on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Our thoughts are with Abe's loved ones and the people of Japan," Marin tweeted in Finnish on Friday.

In a tweet immediately after the attack, President Niinistö said he was "deeply shocked" about the violent act.

"My thoughts are with his family and loved ones and the people of Japan," the Finnish president said over Twitter.

In addition,President Niinistö sent a letter of condolence to Emperor Naruhito of Japan.