Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico has been injured in a shooting. Fico was taken to the hospital and is in "life-threatening condition" after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds according to a Facebook post on the prime minister's official Facebook account.
“The next few hours will decide,” the post said.
Local media reported that the shooting occurred after a Slovak government meeting in Handlova, Slovakia. Four shots were reportedly fired after the government meeting while he was greeting supporters, with one hitting Fico. The government has called it an assassination attempt.
A witness told Reuters that he heard several shots and saw a man being arrested by police, adding that he saw security officials pushing a person into a car and driving away.
"I am shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico in Handlova," wrote the opposition Progressive Slovakia’s Michal Simecka. "We unequivocally and strongly condemn any violence."
Slovakia President Zuzuna Caputova condemned the "brutal and ruthless" attack, adding, "I’m shocked. I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack."
One witness recalled the attack, telling local media, "I was just going to shake his hand."
"When the shots rang out, I almost became deaf," a female witness who said she heard up to four shots added.
An official with Fico’s Smer party confirmed to the Guardian that Fico was shot in the abdomen and was undergoing surgery. A local report stated that his condition was serious.
"It’s a bullet wound to the abdomen and hand. He is currently out of danger. They are going to operate on him," a source told The Telegraph.
