Slovakia’s PM Fico is in ‘life threatening condition’ after being shot
- In Reports
- 10:25 PM, May 15, 2024
- Myind Staff
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico sustained severe injuries when he was shot in an assassination attempt on Wednesday, as confirmed by the government office.
An assassination (attempt) on Prime Minister Robert Fico was carried out today at the government's off-site meeting in Handlova," the government office said in a statement.
“He was shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition,” read a message posted on Wednesday on Fico’s social media account.
Fico, aged 59, was rushed to a hospital in the central city of Handlova following a government meeting. Subsequently, he was airlifted to the city of Banska Bystrica for immediate medical attention as the Slovak capital Bratislava was too far considering the “necessity of an acute intervention.”
“The next few hours will decide,” the message added.
"Three or four" shots were heard, according to a journalist on the scene. According to the witness, police detained a man, and security officials pushed someone into a car and drove off.
Deputy speaker of parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of Parliament and adjourned it until further notice, the Slovak TASR news agency said.
President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the prime minister.
“I’m shocked,” Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, condemned the attack, which also shocked the European Union and the NATO member state's allies in central Europe.
"Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family", von der Leyen said.
Following the shooting, Slovakia's biggest opposition party called off a planned protest against government public broadcaster reforms set for Wednesday evening.
The shooting comes three weeks ahead of crucial European Parliament elections, in which populist and hard-right parties in the 27-nation bloc appear poised to make gains.
Image source: Reuters
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