Handlova (Slovakia) (agencies)
The government office in Slovakia said that Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries yesterday after being subjected to an assassination attempt by shooting him.
He added that Fico (59 years old) was transferred to a hospital in the central city of Handlova after a government meeting held there, and from there he was transported by helicopter to the city of Banska Bystrica to receive urgent treatment.
According to Reuters, gunshots were heard after the meeting held in Handlova, northeast of the capital, Bratislava. The witness said: The police arrested a man, while security forces pushed someone into a car and drove off.
The government office said in a statement, “An assassination attempt was carried out on Prime Minister Robert Fico (yesterday) in front of the headquarters of a government meeting in Handelova.”
The TA3 news channel reported that four bullets were fired at the prime minister, who was hit in the abdomen.
After the incident, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and wrote on the “X” platform: “I strongly condemn the despicable attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. There is no place in our society for such acts of violence, and they undermine democracy, our most precious asset.”
She added: “My thoughts go out to Prime Minister Fico and his family.” Yesterday, the Slovak newspaper Denik In reported that Fico was taken to the hospital after being shot.
Bloomberg News reported that Fico was attacked following a government meeting in the town of Handlova. It is still unclear the extent of the injury suffered by Fico, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Matej Neumann.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, condemned the attack, which shocked the European Union’s allies and NATO member states in central Europe.
Von der Leyen said: “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, which is our most valuable common interest. My heart goes out to Prime Minister Fico and his family.”
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova wrote on the “X” platform yesterday: “I am deeply shocked by the brutal attack that occurred (today) on the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, and I condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.”
She added: “I wish him strength in this critical moment and a speedy recovery.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock on the “X” social media platform, saying: “The news of the cowardly assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Fico shocked me deeply.” “Violence must have no place in European politics.”
Commenting on the assassination attempt, European leaders yesterday expressed their regret for the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on the X website: “Shocking news from Slovakia, Robert, my sympathies are with you at this very difficult moment.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote: “I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack on my friend Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and speedy recovery.”
For his part, Czech Prime Minister Peter Fiala said: “The news of the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is shocking. I hope the Prime Minister recovers as soon as possible. We must not tolerate violence, it must have no place in society.”
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