Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was hospitalized in critical condition on Wednesday after being shot multiple times in an assassination attempt following a meeting in Handlova, central Slovakia.
The incident occurred outside a cultural center where Fico had just concluded an off-site government gathering.
Reports suggest the assailant was among a group waiting to greet the prime minister on the street.
Video footage captured the chaotic scene as Fico was swiftly ushered into a vehicle by his staff and driven away to a local hospital. D
ue to the severity of his injuries, he was later airlifted to a major trauma center in Banska Bystrica, about 20 miles away.
In a statement on Fico’s official social media and party platforms, the attack was labeled an “assassination attempt,” emphasizing the gravity of his condition and the critical hours ahead.
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová confirmed that the suspected gunman had been apprehended by law enforcement and urged against the spread of unverified information.
Čaputová condemned the attack as “brutal and reckless,” characterizing it as an assault on democracy. She expressed shock and extended wishes for Fico’s recovery.
Robert Fico, known for his controversial stances, made headlines with his recent election victory, where he campaigned against Western support for Ukraine.
Fico’s tenure as prime minister has been marked by close ties to Hungary’s Viktor Orban and contentious relations with the European Union.
European leaders swiftly condemned the attack, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denouncing it as a threat to democracy and offering support to Fico and his family.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban expressed shock and solidarity, wishing Fico a swift recovery.
