Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot Wednesday afternoon following a Cabinet meeting in the central town of Handlova.
Fico was “shot multiple times and is currently in life-threatening condition,” government officials said. He was transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, the regional capital, where he underwent several hours of surgery.
"I was very shocked. ... Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well, and I guess in the end. he will survive. ... He's not in a life-threatening situation at this moment," Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC's “Newshour.” Another news outlet said Fico was in stable condition.
The 59-year-old prime minister was hit in the abdomen after five shots were fired outside Handlova’s House of Culture, where Fico was meeting with supporters, local media reports said.
Police have detained a suspect, according to TA3, a local media TV station.
A helicopter was sent for the leader, emergency services said.
The left-wing populist prime minister returned to power for the fourth time last year after his party won the parliamentary election on a pro-Russian, anti-American platform.
Slovak President Zuzana Caputova denounced the attack.
"I'm shocked," she said. "I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack."
In a telegram to Caputova, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the shooting “monstrous.”
U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday, "We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the “shocking attack,” Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the secretary-general, said at a briefing.
Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
