UPDATE - Slovakia’s prime minister shot, injured: State-run media

UPDATES WITH CONDEMNATIONS OVER INCIDENT, ADDS BACKGROUND

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was taken to hospital after he was shot and injured on Wednesday, according to state-run media.

According to the TASR news agency, the incident took place when an attacker fired several shots in front of the House of Culture in the central city of Handlova, where a government meeting was held.

The attacker was detained after the attack, it said.

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.

Slovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova condemned the attack in “strongest possible terms” and wished the prime minister early recovery.

- Condemnations

Condemning the attack, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X: "Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family."

Expressing “shock” over the incident, European Council President Charles Michel said: “Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks.”

Both Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the attack with posts on X. Iohannis wrote: "Appalled to learn about the shooting of the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. I strongly condemn such extremist acts, which threaten our core European values."

Rutte said: "Shocked by the shooting of my long time colleague Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia. I wish him much strength, my thoughts are with him and his family."

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said: "I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and quick recovery! God bless him and his country.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said: “We categorically condemn the attack on Robert #Fico! We wish to him a speedy recovery, strength and courage to his family.”

Fico's leftist SMER party won elections in September 2023 on a promise to end military aid to Ukraine and stop irregular migration.

It marked the third time he took the office of prime minister.

Fico is the chairman of the SMER party, part of a three-party coalition government that includes the Hlas party and Slovak National Party.