Assassination attempt after meeting

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico (59) shot

The seriously injured head of government was taken to his car by his bodyguards and immediately taken to hospital. The suspected assassin was arrested on the spot (small picture).(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Reuters)

Shock in Slovakia! An assassination attempt was made on the head of government Robert Fico (59) on Wednesday. After a cabinet meeting in the town of Handlova, a previously unknown man opened fire on the politician, hitting him at least once in the stomach. The Prime Minister, whose life was in danger, was immediately transported to hospital and the gunman arrested.

Fico had met with supporters on the street after a meeting of his government in Handlova, around 150 kilometers from Bratislava. The shots are then said to have been fired. A video circulating on the short message service X is said to show the arrest of a suspect:

A total of four shots are said to have been fired, with one hitting Fico in the stomach. The politician who was shot was seriously wounded and flown by emergency helicopter to a hospital in Banská Bystrica. A flight to the capital Bratislava "would have taken too long", according to a post on the prime minister's Facebook page. "The next few hours will be crucial," it continued.

Prime Minister Robert Fico was flown to the nearest hospital by emergency helicopter.(Bild: APA/AP)

Prime Minister Robert Fico was flown to the nearest hospital by emergency helicopter.(Bild: APA/AP)

President shocked
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lubos Blaha (44) confirmed the incident during a parliamentary session and adjourned it until further notice, according to the Slovakian news agency TASR.

Everything was still fine here: Prime Minister Robert Fico talking to people before the government meeting(Bild: APA/AP)

Head of state Zuzana Čaputová expressed her shock and told the news agency: "At this critical moment, I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength to survive this attack."

Particularly explosive: just a few days ago, the 59-year-old left-wing nationalist accused the liberal opposition of creating a hostile climate against the government. Fico warned that it could not be ruled out that such a climate could lead to violence at some point.