Shinzo Abe’s suspected assassin pictured behind him before killing

Chilling photos have emerged of the moment Shinzo Abe’s suspected killer casually stands behind him just before he assassinates the former Japanese Prime Minister.

The images show Abe — who was Japan’s longest-serving leader — starting a campaign-rally speech in the western region of Nara, smiling as those around him clap.

Standing just feet behind them was an innocent-looking masked man wearing military-style pants and with a bag slung around his back.

Within minutes of the divisive politician starting his speech, that same man — identified as disgruntled 41-year-old veteran Tetsuya Yamagami — snuck closer to Abe and shot him dead in an attack that sparked immediate condemnation from leaders around the world.