Slovakian leader 'fighting for his life' after assassination attempt

Fears for democracy after veteran populist Fico gunned down

- Ashifa Kassam

Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was being treated for life-threatening injuries last night after an assassination attempt that sparked warnings across Europe of a rise in political violence. Video footage appeared to show the moment five shots were fired at Fico, 59, as he shook hands with a supporters in the town of Handlová, about 90 miles north-east of the capital, Bratislava.

Slovakia's defence minister, Robert Kaliňák, said Fico was in an "extraordinarily serious" condition despite three and half hours of surgery. Medical workers in the city of Banská Bystrica were "fighting for the life" of Fico, who had suffered "serious polytrauma after several shots".

The country's interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, told reporters: "We suspect the attacker had political motivation." A suspect was in custody, the country's president, Zuzana Čaputová, said earlier in a televised statement.

Local media identified the alleged gunman as Juraj C, a 71-year-old writer and poet from Levice, south-central Slovakia, who had spoken of his desire to form a political movement on YouTube.

The son of the alleged shooter told news outlet Aktuality.sk that his father was the legal holder of a gun licence. "I have absolutely no idea what my father intended, what he planned, what happened," he was quoted as saying.

A video posted online appeared to show the alleged shooter in detention saying that he did not agree with the government's policies, particularly what he described as the "liquidation" of the media.

Fico, a veteran politician, returned to power in Slovakia after elections last year, fuelled in part by promises to halt military aid to Ukraine, criticisms of sanctions targeting Russia and campaigns against LGBTQ+ rights.