In a shocking turn of events, Slovakian police have charge a man, described as a politically motivated “lone wolf,” with the attempted murder of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The Prime Minister is currently in critical condition in the hospital following the assassination attempt, which has rattled the Eastern European nation.
Prime Minister Fico’s deputy reported on Thursday that despite the severity of his injuries, Fico’s condition is stable but serious, following surgery. The attempted assassination has sent shockwaves through Slovakia and garnered condemnation worldwide. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj-Eštok revealed that the suspect confessed to law enforcement officers, citing disagreement with the government and its reforms as motivation for the attack.
The 59-year-old populist leader, who returned to power last year amidst controversy over policy changes, was targeted on Wednesday following an off-site government meeting in Handlova. As Prime Minister Fico approached a small crowd, the assailant, concealed among them, swiftly fired five shots from close range across a security barrier. Video footage captured the chaos as Fico was quickly evacuated by his staff into a waiting vehicle, which sped away from the scene. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported in the attack.