The Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot. Several Slovak media outlets report this unanimously. Four shots were fired at him. The politician was taken to hospital.
According to media reports, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured in the abdomen in a suspected gun attack. The 59-year-old was taken to hospital, news channel TA3 reported. A suspect was therefore taken into custody. Fico’s life is in danger, reports the Reuters news agency, citing the government office.
The incident occurred in the town of Handlova, around 150 kilometers northeast of the capital Bratislava. He is now said to have been transported by helicopter to a hospital in the town of Banská Bystrica. A reporter from the daily newspaper “Dennik N” is said to have heard several shots and then observed rescue workers carrying Fico into a car.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke on Platform X of a “cowardly attack” that shocked him greatly. “Violence must have no place in European politics,” continued Scholz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attack on X as “abhorrent.” Such acts of violence would undermine democracy, wrote von der Leyen.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session in the House of Representatives, which was then adjourned indefinitely, the TASR news agency reported. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry also confirmed the incident.