Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and wounded on Wednesday following a government meeting in Handlova. The incident took place in front of the House of Culture, where Fico had just exited the building to greet onlookers. Local reports confirm that he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Slovak PM Robert Fico is in critical condition after being shot in Handlova. The 71-year-old assailant, identified as Juraj Cintula, was apprehended by police as he tried to flee the scene. Slovak TV JOJ24 reveals the suspect in PM Robert Fico’s shooting is Juraj Cintula, 71, former chairman of a literary club and a member of the Society of Slovak Writers. He also worked as a driver in Levice.
News agency TASR reported the shooting, which occurred shortly after Fico left the meeting venue. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as several shots were fired, causing Fico to fall to the ground. A 71 year old man named as Juraj C was detained by police at the scene, and the area was quickly cordoned off.
A local reporter for the Slovakian news site Dennik stated that Fico had been engaging with the crowd when the shots rang out. The swift response by police led to the immediate apprehension of the alleged assailant and the evacuation of the House of Culture.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear, and authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Prime Minister’s condition is currently unknown, and there has been no official statement from the government regarding the incident.