Unification Church distances itself from Abe's assassination

TOKYO (AP) — The Unification Church confirmed the mother of the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a member and said it was cooperating with the police investigation into possible motives.

Police say the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators he wanted to kill Abe because of his apparent connection to an organization. Some Japanese media gave his mother's donations to the church and her subsequent bankruptcy as a motive for the assassination.

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, declined to comment on the specifics of the donations Monday. Speaking in generalities, he confirmed some people have made generous donations, but stressed none was forced.

Also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the church was founded in South Korea by the late Sun Myung Moon. It is known to have hundreds of thousands of followers in Japan.

“Trying to understand how such hatred may have possibly led to the killing is totally perplexing,” Tanaka said.

Abe was not a church member, but may have spoken at affiliated groups' events, Tanaka said.

Abe was fatally shot Friday in Nara in western Japan while campaigning for Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Video and photos taken by people in the crowd show the suspect pulling out a homemade gun. Two smoke-filled blasts were fired. Abe collapsed and later died at a hospital.

Funeral services were being held Tuesday at a Tokyo Buddhist temple.

“This is something that should never have happened, and I feel a deep outrage,” Tanaka said, bowing deeply. “My heart aches that Japan has lost a loved and respected leader.”

Such bows are part of Japanese protocol to express condolences and do not necessarily signify admission of guilt.

Tanaka brushed off media...