Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot in a small town north-east of Bratislava. Defence Minister Robert Kalinak last evening said Mr. Fico had been in surgery for over three hours and that the situation was “bad”. Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba said the 59-year old leader is not in a life threatening situation at this moment.
Slovak politicians including the president have called the shooting an attack on democracy. US President Joe Biden has also condemned the shooting of Mr Fico as a horrific act of violence.
The alleged assailant was detained at the scene but has not yet been formally identified by the authorities. The attack happened as Mr. Fico greeted people in front of a cultural community centre where a government meeting had been held.