Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico Shot Multiple Times, Condition Described as Life-Threatening

According to various reports, Fico was shot five times at close range, with one bullet hitting him in the abdomen. He was taken to hospital by security personnel and is expected to survive. The shooter, a 71-year-old man, was detained by police immediately after the incident.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, 59, was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt on March 15. The incident occurred outside the House of Culture in Handlova, a town 85 miles northeast of Bratislava, after a government meeting. According to reports, four shots were fired and one hit Fico in the abdomen. He was taken to a hospital where medical personnel stabilized his vital signs, but he remains in a life-threatening condition. A suspect has been detained by police, who sealed off the scene. The shooting comes just three weeks ahead of crucial European Parliament elections. Fico's critics have raised concerns about his more Russia-friendly approach to foreign policy, which some see as an attempt to emulate Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.