Robert Fico, the populist Prime Minister of Slovakia, is fighting for his life after he was rushed to hospital following a horror shooting, his office has said.
The terrifying “assassination attempt” took place in Handlova, a town located 93 miles north east of the country’s capital Bratislava. The Slovakian Government confirmed that he is in critical condition after being transported by helicopter, from a local hospital to one in the capitlal.
Fico, whos is pals with Russia President Vladimir Putin, is now undergoing surgery after sustaineing injuries to his head and chest, according to an eyewitness at the scene, who told MNT.SK that she heard “three of four shots”.
He fell to the ground as emergency services swarmed the scene.
A suspect has been detained, according to local news station TA3, with a dramatic video showing the moment they were arrested.
A loud commotion can be heard, as police officers can be seen swarming the alleged attacker while sirens can be heard blaring in the distance.
Details of the incident remain scarce. Express.co.uk has contacted the Slovakian Police for comment.
President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the premier.
“I’m shocked,” Ms Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.”
Deputy speaker of parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of Parliament and adjourned it until further notice, the Slovak TASR news agency said.
The incident took place in front of the local House of Culture, where Mr Fico came to meet with supporters. Police sealed off the scene.
A second video shows Fico being taken to his car after the attack, with his current condition still unknown.
It comes amid huge protests across the country, with thousands rallying over the PM’s policies, and thousands more concerned that he will follow the direction of Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.
Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest over Mr Fico’s policies.
A reporter for the daily newspaper Dennik N daily heard shooting and then saw rescuers carrying the premier to a car.
Estonian PM Kaja Kallas said: “Deeply shocked by the assasination attempt of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico.
“An attack against an elected leader is also an attack against the very idea of democracy. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the “awful news” that Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico had been shot.
Mr Fico was reportedly shot and injured as he greeted crowds in front of a cultural community centre in the town of Handlova, where a government meeting had been held.
The Prime Minister said on X, formerly Twitter: “Shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.”
Robert Fico has served as the Slovakian PM since 2023, after previously serving from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018.
He has recently come under fire for oppposing NATO membership for Ukraine.
His government has long opposed giving military aid to President Zelensky and his troops, and has bizarrely claimed that life is “normal” in Kyiv.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she described as a “vile attack.”
“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the incident “shocking,” adding “I wish the premier to get well soon. We cannot tolerate violence, there’s no place for it in society.” The Czech Republic and Slovakia formed Czechoslovakia till 1992.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the social media network X: “Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment.”