Slovakian PM seriously hurt after assassination attempt

Man in his seventies held after Robert Fico shot three times

- HOLLY EVANS MATT MATHERS

Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico was serioulsy injured yesterday after a shooting described by government officials as an assassination attempt. The incident took place in Handlova, a small mining town about 193km (120 miles) northeast of the capital Bratislava, after a government meeting yesterday. The 59year-old premier was hit in the stomach during the attack, and underwent major surgery.

Speaking late last night, deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba said the operation “went well” and added: “I guess in the end he will survive ... he’s not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”

After the incident, Mr Fico was bundled into his car by his security team before being taken to hospital. A suspect, understood to be a 71-year-old former security guard, has been detained after dramatic images showed a man handcuffed on the ground.

The gunman fired five shots and three are believed to have struck the PM. Mr Taraba said one bullet went through Mr Fico’s stomach and a second hit a joint.

The shooting occurred in front of the local House of Culture, where Mr Fico came to meet with supporters. A reporter for the daily newspaper Dennik N said they heard shooting and then saw rescuers carrying Mr Fico, an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, to a car. “I was just going to shake his hand,” said a man who witnessed the shooting. His wife said she “almost became deaf” after hearing three or four shots ring out.