Gunshots aimed at Slovakian prime minister; Fico's safety at risk
Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was gunned down outside a cabinet meeting in Handlova. While departing the meeting, a shooter targeted the 59-year-old leader, leaving him injured and hospitalized. The circumstances surrounding this assassination attempt are yet to be fully understood.
TASR, the Slovakian news agency, reported the incident, citing Lubos Blaha, deputy leader of Fico's Smer party. Blaha confirmed that multiple gunshots were heard during the attack, with the perpetrator subsequently apprehended. At this point, the motive behind the shooting remains uncertain.
To ease his injuries, a helicopter transported Fico to a clinic in Banská Bystrica. However, the rescue service did not initially divulge his condition, stating that the operation was still ongoing. Fico's official Facebook page later disclosed that his life was in danger.
The assigned medical team working on Fico emphasized the significance of the coming hours. Followers on his page were provided an update, expressing concern for his well-being.
In response to this cowardly attack, the House of Culture, where the government meeting took place, was cleared by police. Recently, Fico had taken down the liberal opposition for cultivating an unfriendly climate towards the government. There was a warning that this heated atmosphere might one day spark violence.
Expressing outrage and shock, Olaf Scholz, the German Prime Minister, commented on the incident, insisting that violence has no room in European politics. "At this moment, my mind is with Robert Fico, his family, and the people of Slovakia," he said. Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova also rejected the attack, labelling it "brutal and ruthless."
Eyewitnesses reported the assailant opening fire as Fico prepared to greet a small gathering of people on the street, with several shots being heard. "Pravda," a Slovakian newspaper, provided further details, mentioning four to five shots. One of these bullets is supposed to have hit Fico in the chest.
Handlova is a town about 190 kilometers north-east of Bratislava. Fico was traveling through the country's various regions at the time of the incident.
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Following the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, medical personnel transported him to a clinic in Banská Bystrica for treatment. Due to the serious nature of his injuries, Fico's life was in danger, as his official Facebook page revealed. Notably, Banská Bystrica is located in Central Slovakia, approximately 100 kilometers south of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia.
Source: www.ntv.de
