Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is facing life-threatening injuries after being shot multiple times by what his government described as a would-be assassin following a government meeting.
According to The New York Times, several shots were fired at Fico in the town Handlova after an off-site meeting with officials. He was transported to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, where he remains in serious condition.
The incident reportedly took place in front of the House of Culture, where the prime the minister greeted his supporters. The suspected assassin was quickly detained by law enforcement and government security.
Shocking footage of the shooting circulated on social media:
Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, wishing the prime minister “strength” while condemning the brutal and reckless shooting.
“Utterly shocked by today’s brutal attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms,” Čaputová wrote on X.
“I wish him [a] lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family
and close ones,” she concluded.
Fico has been a longtime ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban — as the pair have jointly criticized the European Union and western support of Ukraine.
Fico was recently reelected again as prime minister last October after arguing that “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” were responsible for the country’s war and not Russia.
Source link : https://www.mediaite.com/news/slovakia-prime-minister-shot-multiple-times-in-reported-assassination-attempt/amp/
Author :
Publish date : 2024-05-15 03:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.