Japan's former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has been taken to hospital bleeding after collapsing while delivering a speech in the Western city of Nara.

Public broadcaster, NHK reports a sound like a gunshot was heard at the time and a male suspect was detained at the scene.

An NHK reporter on the scene says they could hear two consecutive bangs during Abe's speech.

A suspect has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and a gun has been retrieved.

Source: Reuters