Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has been injured in a shooting following a government meeting and been taken to hospital.
Local broadcaster TA3 reported that four shots were fired, one hitting Prime Minister Fico in the stomach.
Emergency services said a helicopter had been dispatched to the central Slovakian town of Handlova, where Fico’s cabinet had been meeting, after a 59-year-old man was shot.
Handlova hospital director Marta Eckhardtova told the AFP news agency: “Mr. Fico was brought into our hospital and he was treated at our vascular surgery clinic. The prime minister was later transported from our hospital, he is on his way to Bratislava.”
A Slovak interior ministry spokesperson told the Reuters news agency that an “assasination attempt” had been carried out.
What do we know about the shooting?
The shooting occured in Handlova, a small town about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Bratislava.
It occured in front of the local “House of Culture” where populist leader Fico had been meeting supporters just three weeks ahead of crucial European Parliament elections.
The Slovakian parliament’s deputy speaker Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of parliament which was adjourned until further notice.
A reporter for one daily newspaper said he heard shooting and then saw rescuers carrying the 59-year-old premier to a car.
Another witness told Reuters that he heard several shots and that he saw a man being detained by police.
Following the shooting, Slovakia’s biggest opposition party called off a planned protest against government public broadcaster reforms which had been set for Wednesday evening.
European leaders condemn ‘brutal and ruthless attack’
Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the premier.
“I’m shocked,” Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the “vile” attack and said: “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “violence has no place in European politics.”
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said he was “profoundly shocked” by the news, saying: “Such extreme acts have no justification and the perpetrators must be held accountable.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a political ally of Fico, said he was “deeply shocked by the heinous attack” on his “friend.”
Who is Robert Fico?
Fico, the longest-serving Prime Minister in Slovakia’s history, began his latest term in October 2023 after running on a campaign to scale back military support to Ukraine.
His party, “Direction – Social Democracy” – known as Smer – won just under 23% of the vote and formed a coalition with “Voice – Social Democracy” – known as Hlas – and the pro-Russian Slovak National Party.
During a three-decade career, Fico has fluctuated between the pro-European mainstream and more nationalistic positions opposed to European Union and US policies.
This is a breaking news story, it will be updated…
mf/lo (Reuters, AP)
