Attempted assassination of Robert Fico: Difference between revisions

On 15 May 2024, Slovakia prime minister Robert Fico was shot. The attack has been described as an assassination attempt. ^[1]

The shooting occurred outside a cultural centre in Handlová, which hosted a government discussion. Fico was giving a speech to a crowd at the time of the shooting. According to journalists, several sounds of gunfire were heard. The prime minister subsequently collapsed to the floor.^[2] The assailant was captured by several people and police cordoned off the area.^[3][4] Three other ministers were escorted away from the scene.^[5]

Fico was brought into a car by medical personnel.^[6] He was later taken to Handlova Hospital for his injuries and subsequently airlifted to Banska Bystrica Hospital. An interior ministry official said Fico was conscious while being transported to the Handlova Hospital where they treated him for gunshot injuries.^[7] According to TA3, a local broadcaster, four shots were fired with one shot striking Fico in his stomach area and others striking his head and chest.^[8][4][9] Plus jeden deň reported that Fico's condition was severe.^[5]

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ľuboš Blaha confirmed the shooting during a parliament session which was later suspended.^[8] The interior ministry described it as an "assassination attempt".^[10] Zuzana Čaputová, Slovakia's President, called the shooting "brutal and ruthless" and expressed shock for the attack and solidarity with Fico.^[4] Similar sentiments were expressed by Michal Šimečka, leader of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia.^[11]

Czechia's Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, and several other Czech politicians condemned the attack.^[12] The German chancellor, [[Olaf Scholz] and the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban also expressed their shock and condemnation.^[10] Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack "appaling" and expressed solidarity with the people of Slovakia.^[13]