Czech leaders react after Slovak PM assisnation attempt

Czech leaders have reacted this afternoon after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot today as he walked into a crowd after a cabinet meeting in Handlová, Central Slovakia. Police have detained the attacker. Slovak Television reports that Fico is being transported to a hospital in Banská Bystrica. He is in a critical condition

A spokeswoman at the Handlová hospital said Fico, 59, is conscious and his vital signs are stable. His Facebook account stated at around 4 p.m.: "At this moment, he is being transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as it would take too long to get to Bratislava. The statement added that Fico had been shot several times and his life was in danger.

Slovak Interior Ministry spokesman Matej Neumann described the attack as an assassination attempt. The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m.

Witnesses said several shots were fired as Fico approached people who were greeting him. One witness reported seeing bloody wounds on Fico's chest and head.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on social media site X: “The news about the shooting of Fico is shocking. I wish the prime minister to get well as soon as possible. We must not tolerate violence, it must have no place in society.”

President Petr Pavel of Czechia said: “The attack on Fico is unequivocally reprehensible, whatever the motivation. It should be a warning to us about how far the deepening of animosity and aggression in society can lead. I wish him to come out of this incident without [further] consequences.”

“I was shocked by today’s attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. I absolutely condemn violence in politics. I wish him a speedy recovery,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavský.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said: “Violence does not belong in politics. It doesn't really belong anywhere. I unequivocally and emphatically condemn the attack on the Slovak prime minister.”

Fico was elected in 2023 for his third (non-consecutive) term as prime minister. He was previously the prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. He created the left-wing nationalist political party Direction – Social Democracy (Smer) party in 1999 and has been its leader since.