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Slovak PM hurt in shooting after govt meeting: reports

By AAP Newswire

May 15, 2024

Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico has been wounded in a shooting and taken to hospital.

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Reports on TA3, a Slovakian TV station, said that Fico was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, 150km northeast of the capital, where the leader was meeting with supporters.

A suspect has been detained, it said.

Police sealed off the scene.

A Reuters witness said he heard several shots and that he saw a man being detained by police.

The Reuters witness said he saw security officials pushing someone into a car and driving off.

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.

President Zuzana Caputova condemned "a brutal and ruthless" attack on the Fico.

Utterly shocked by today's brutal attack on — Zuzana Čaputová (@ZuzanaCaputova) #Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms. I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones.May 15, 2024

"I'm shocked," Caputova said.

Fico's latest term as prime minister began in October.

The 59-year-old previously held the post of prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and 2012 to 2018.

with AP and DPA