Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was targeted midday in the Slovak town of Handlová. He was wounded with a firearm, police detained the attacker.
Read more about his condition and possible motives behind the attack in the RBC-Ukraine report.
Sources: statements by Slovakia and Czechia officials, Prime Minister Fico's Facebook, Denník N, TV Joj, and Pravda: Správy.
Contents
- How it all started
- How officials reacted
- Fico's condition and possible motives
How it all started
Journalists reported that shots were fired near the local House of Culture in Handlová. The government was meeting in this building, and Prime Minister Robert Fico came out to address the people.
Photo: Fico security (reuters.com)
Journalist Daniel Vražda reported that he did not see the shooting, but the sounds of the shots were loud. He saw the wounded prime minister being dragged to a car by his bodyguards.
BREAKING — The Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico has just been shot in public. This comes only days after Fico formally & publicly rejected The WHO Global Pandemic Accord. Channel: @JFK_TV pic.twitter.com/0BNqYddBvZ
— Ceeeeeeeeelo2024 (@Ceeeeeeelo7) May 15, 2024
The police immediately detained the alleged shooter. Media reports say that it is a 71-year-old man from Levice.
Photo: Arrest of the shooter (reuters.com)
How officials reacted
Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová strongly condemned the brutal and reckless attack on the PM.
"I am shocked. I wish Roberto Fico a lot of strength at this critical moment to recover from the attack," she said.
Local MP and head of the Progressive Slovakia party Michal Šimečka said he was shocked and appalled by the shooting.
"We unequivocally and strongly condemn any violence. We believe that Prime Minister Fico will be okay and that this horrific act will be solved as soon as possible," he added.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that violence must not be tolerated and wished Fico a quick recovery.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted to the incident. He strongly condemned the act of violence against the head of government of a neighboring partner state.
"Every effort must be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form or sphere," he wrote.
Zelenskyy expressed hope for Fico's fast recovery.
Fico's condition and possible motives
Media report that Fico was shot in the leg and arm. Other journalists indicate that his condition is very serious. Sources from one of the Slovak media outlets report that there is no threat to Fico's life. He is currently being taken to a hospital in Banská Bystrica.
Photo: Security guards dragged the wounded Fico to a car (screenshot)
Fico's official Facebook says that he is currently in a life-threatening condition.
"He is currently being transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as it will take too long to get to Bratislava, while he needs urgent help. The next few hours will be crucial," a statement on his account says.
The situation in the local parliament has become tense. Official Richard Glück entered the hall and shouted to opposition MPs that it was "their fault" and they were responsible for it. MP Josef Pročko shouted that he was a public official and should behave accordingly.
Deputy Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia Andrej Danko tried to blame the tragedy on journalists.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported there was a shooting in Slovakia after a government meeting, where Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured.
