Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot in the town of Handlova on Thursday. key points:
- Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, was shot during a government meeting
- Reports say four shots were fired, with one hitting Fico in the stomach area
- He was taken to a hospital, but his current condition is unknown
- Police have detained a man in connection with the shooting
Do you want to know more about this shooting and what happened? Keep reading!
What Happened?
On Thursday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot while leaving a government meeting in the town of Handlova. According to witnesses, several shots were fired from a crowd towards Fico.
Reports state that four shots were fired in total. One of those shots hit Fico in his abdomen or stomach area. After being shot, Fico fell to the ground.
Fico was then loaded into a vehicle and rushed to a nearby hospital. His current condition is not known at this time. However, the President of Slovakia condemned the “brutal attack” and wished Fico a full recovery.
Police have detained a man in connection with the shooting of the Prime Minister. However, no other details about this person have been provided yet.
Who is Robert Fico?
Robert Fico has been the Prime Minister of Slovakia three times over the past decades. Slovakia is a relatively new and young countryโit was formed in 1993 when Czechoslovakia split into two nations.
Fico is considered a significant and influential politician in Slovak history. However, he has also been a controversial figure over the years.
There have been many allegations that Fico was involved in corruption scandals during his time as Prime Minister, though these claims were never proven. A journalist investigating these claims was assassinated several years ago.
More recently, Fico has taken pro-Russia stances regarding the war in Ukraine. He opposes Slovakia’s sending weapons to help Ukraine and wants to find a compromise with Russia to end the conflict peacefully.
Fico has made enemies with his blunt speech and fiery personality. He has insulted journalists in the past, calling them “corrupt” and threatening them with violence for criticizing him.
Why Was He Shot?
The motive behind the shooting of Prime Minister Fico is not known yet. Gun violence is quite rare in Slovakia, so this attack was very unusual.
Because of Fico’s lengthy political career and controversial stances, it is possible the shooting was politically motivated. He may have made enemies who wanted to harm him.
However, police have not provided any details yet about who the detained man is or why he may have opened fire. More information will likely be released as the investigation continues.
We will have to wait and see what additional facts come to light about this shocking attack on the Slovak Prime Minister in the small town of Handlova. Why do you think someone might have wanted to shoot Robert Fico? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
