Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and rushed to a hospital in "life-threatening condition" in an attack after a political event Wednesday.
Fico, 59, was shot in the stomach after four rounds were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, the Associated Press reported. He was there to meet with supporters.
Security personnel quickly dragged Fico to a car to rush him to the hospital.
An initial investigation found "a clear political motivation" behind the assassination attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said.
A message posted to Fico's Facebook account said he "has been shot multiple times and is currently in life-threatening condition."
"The next few hours will decide," the post said.
Police sealed off the shooting scene and a suspect has been detained
⚡️⚡️⚡️ The first minutes after the attack on Robert #Fico - the prime minister's security guards evacuate him to his motorcade while eyewitnesses hold the shooter
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 15, 2024
According to preliminary information from Slovak media, Fico was shot multiple times. One to the abdomen, one to the… pic.twitter.com/vhcYPPjjlg
The BBC said several men rushed to detain the suspect. He was seen sitting on the ground with his hands bound behind his back.
President Zuzana Caputova said she was "utterly shocked" by the attack.
In a post on X, she said: "I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones."
Utterly shocked by today's brutal attack on #Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms.
— Zuzana Čaputová (@ZuzanaCaputova) May 15, 2024
I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones.
‼️ The first seconds after the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robet Fico
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 15, 2024
The footage shows a close-up view of the shooter's face. Blood can be seen on his 71-year-old man's shirt.
The assassination attempt took place after a government meeting in the town of… pic.twitter.com/5bBHlEvb54
Fico has publicly opposed military aid to Ukraine and is critical of the European Union and NATO.
Thousands of people flocked to the streets of Bratislava in March to display their solidarity with Ukraine and their disapproval of Fico's government, which they believe has become too close to Russia.
