A suspect was in custody and the country's interior minister said that an initial investigation found 'a clear political motivation' behind the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Rescue workers take Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot and injured, to a hospital in the town of Banska Bystrica, in central Slovakia, on Wednesday.
Fico's government has already halted arms deliveries to Ukraine, and has plans to amend the penal code to eliminate a special anti-graft prosecutor and to take control of public media. His critics worry that he will lead Slovakia — a nation of 5.4 million that belongs to NATO — down a more autocratic path.
Doctors performed a five-hour operation on Fico, who was initially reported to be in life-threatening condition, according to director of the F.D. Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, Miriam Lapunikova. He is being treated in an intensive care unit.Five shots were fired outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles northeast of the capital, government officials said.
Despite the controversy surrounding Fico's leadership, condemnation of the attack came from both his allies and adversaries. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, expressing his support and wishing the prime minister a fast and full recovery.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Shot in Assassination AttemptSee multiple perspectives from National Review (News), Wall Street Journal (News), and CNN (Online News) at AllSides.com.
Read more »
Reactions as Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is shot and woundedSlovakian Prime MInister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot by an assailant following a political event. The shooting sent shockwaves across Europe few weeks before EU parliament elections are scheduled to be held.
Read more »
Reactions as Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is shot and woundedSlovakian Prime MInister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot by an assailant following a political event.
Read more »
Reactions as Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is shot and woundedSlovakian Prime MInister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot by an assailant following a political event
Read more »
Reactions as Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is shot and woundedSlovakian Prime MInister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot by an assailant following a political event.
Read more »
Slovak prime minister in life-threatening condition after assassination attempt, government saysSlovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot and wounded in an attempted assassination on Wednesday, the government office said.
Read more »