Slovakia in shock: attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. The politician was wounded by several gunshots to the abdomen, chest and a limb. The attack occurred at the end of a government meeting, near a cultural center in the city of Handlova. After greeting the crowd, the Slovak prime minister was hit by bullets fired by a man – a seventy-one year old originally from Levice – stopped by some passers-by and immediately arrested by the police present in the area. Fico was immediately rescued and rushed to a hospital in Bratislava.
Based on the first available information, published by the Slovakian portal Pluska.sk, the conditions of Fico are considered very serious. Confirmed injuries to the abdomen and a limb. The prime minister will undergo surgery in the next few hours. The prime minister’s official account issued a note: “He was shot several times and is currently in danger of life. At this moment he is being transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, because it would take too long to get to Bratislava” and an emergency procedure is required, “the next few hours will be decisive”.
The international community expressed solidarity and closeness to the Slovak Prime Minister, condemning the horrible attack in no uncertain terms. “We don’t have any news yet, let’s see. These are worrying things, there shouldn’t be violence in Europe. We need to understand what it is, it’s too early to comment”, the words of the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani: “We don’t know if it’s a terrorist thing, if he’s deranged. We are close to Fico.” Thus the President of the European Council Charles Michel: “I am shocked by the news of the attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico after the Slovak cabinet meeting in Handlova. Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks. My thoughts go to the Prime Minister and his family.” Further updates coming soon.
