Slovak PM stable after assassination attempt

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in stable condition after surgery following an assassination attempt, media reported.

According to Slovak media TA3, BBC quoted Slovak Environment Minister Tomas Taraba as saying that the prime minister’s life is not in danger, reported Xinhua.

“I was very shocked… fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive… he’s not in a life-threatening situation at this moment,” Taraba said.

Fico was wounded yesterday afternoon after attending a government meeting in the town of Handlova, some 150 km northeast of the capital, after an attacker fired several shots in front of the House of Culture in the central city of Handlova.

He was transported by helicopter to the Roosvelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica as the flight to the capital would take a longer time.

Local JOJ television reported that a man in the crowd opened fire at the prime minister when he came out of the building to greet the residents of the city.

The suspect, who was detained on the spot, is reported to be a 71-year-old man.

Fico was in critical condition while undergoing surgery, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said yesterday evening at a press conference.

According to Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, the attack had since been classified as a politically motivated assassination attempt.