: REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
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Slovakia’s pro-Russian populist prime minister Robert Fico has been injured in a shooting and taken to hospital, the country’s president confirmed.
According to the Dennik media outlet, Mr Fico was shot outside the House of Culture where a government meeting was being held.
Mr Fico was speaking to people outside the building when several shots were fired, causing him to fall to the ground, according to reports.
Four shots were fired and one struck Mr Fico, the state broadcaster said.
The suspected assassin was overpowered and is being detained by police, who cordoned off the area.
Slovakia’s president, Zuzana Čaputová, issued a statement condemning the “brutal” attack and wishing the prime minister a full recovery.
A Reuters witness said he heard several shots and that he saw a man being detained by police.
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Robert Fico has served as Slovakia’s prime minister since he came out on top in the September 2023 elections.
He caused concern in Europe for his pro-Russian stance, previously telling the Telegraph that “arming Ukraine brings nothing but killing”.
He pledged to end Western arms deliveries heading to the besieged country through Slovakia.
Mr Fico, a populist Left-winger, won the election after taking advantage of cost of living concernsreturning to office five years after he was forced to quit after outrage at a journalist’s murder.
: AP/Darko Bandic
“I was just going to shake his hand,” one man told local media.
“When the shots rang out, I almost became deaf,” a female witness, who said she heard up to four shots, added.
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.”
A witness said he heard several shots being fired and that he saw a man being detained by police, reported Reuters.
The witness added that he saw security officials forcing a man into a car and driving away.
: REUTERS
: REUTERS
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