The professional-Putin prime minister of Slovakia was recovering in hospital final evening after being shot in an assassination bid that triggered alarm bells throughout Europe.
Robert Fico was beckoned over to satisfy a crowd of supporters earlier than a gunman leaned throughout and fired 5 instances at point-blank vary, sending the divisive politician sprawling to the bottom.
Bodyguards pounced on the would-be murderer as Mr Fico was carried right into a authorities limousine which sped away earlier than he was airlifted to hospital.
His situation was essential, nevertheless Slovak deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba informed the BBC that ‘the operation went effectively’, including he was assured that ‘he’ll survive’.
As police mentioned they’d detained 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula on suspicion of the taking pictures in Handlova, central Slovakia.
Graphic depicting the times occasions following the taking pictures of Slovakian PM Robert Fico
Robert Fico was beckoned over to satisfy a crowd of supporters earlier than a gunman leaned throughout and fired 5 instances at point-blank vary, sending the divisive politician sprawling to the bottom
Bodyguards pounced on the would-be murderer as Mr Fico was carried right into a authorities limousine which sped away earlier than he was airlifted to hospital
Vladimir Putin final evening described the assault as a ‘monstrous crime’ and there are fears he’ll now seize on the tried killing of his populist pal who has staunchly argued towards assist for Ukraine. It comes as:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cancelled journeys overseas as Russia advances on the nation’s second metropolis of Kharkiv;Tens of hundreds took to the streets of Georgia as soon as extra after the ‘pro-Russian’ authorities pressured by ‘Kremlin impressed’ laws;The alleged gunman made a ‘confession’ in custody the place he blamed Mr Fico’s crackdown on free media for the assault;World leaders together with Joe Biden had been fast to sentence the taking pictures.
Russian president Mr Putin – who arrived in Beijing for a state go to final evening – mentioned: ‘I do know Robert Fico to be a brave and strong-spirited man. I very a lot hope that these qualities will assist him to resist this tough state of affairs.’
71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula is believed to be the shooter
His situation was essential following surgical procedure final evening as police mentioned they’d detained 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula on suspicion of the taking pictures in Handlova, central Slovakia
Final evening Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commanding officer of the first Royal Tank Regiment, the UK’s chemical, organic, radiological, and nuclear defence unit, informed The Mail: ‘There are excessive stakes in Europe and the specter of a wider warfare solely advantages Putin.
‘That is one more wake-up name to the West. If we ignore this newest risk to Western safety the probabilities of getting drawn right into a wider warfare in Europe are manifestly better.’
Witnesses mentioned Mr Fico responded to a supporter shouting ‘Robo, come over’ and went to shake their hand after leaving an away-day assembly of the Slovak authorities assembly shortly after 3pm. Harrowing footage then reveals the alleged gunman look both facet earlier than lunging ahead with a pistol in his proper arm and taking pictures the 59-year-old prime minister.
A shaken bystander mentioned: ‘I used to be simply going to shake his hand, when the photographs rang out it virtually deafened me’.
Native journalists interviewed the suspect’s son who witnessed the assault and was in shock. ‘I don’t know what father was as much as, what he was planning and why it occurred,’ he mentioned.
The son mentioned Cintula was not affected by any psychological well being issues and had by no means talked about assassinating a politician. Nevertheless, the background of the alleged gunman provoked additional questions final evening. Images appeared to point out he was affiliated to a pro-Russian militia Slovenskí Branci.
Mr Fico was shot within the arm and abdomen and his accidents had been so extreme there was no time to switch him to the capital, Bratislava.
Slovak inside minister Matus Sutaj Estok confirmed he was acutely aware after main surgical procedure final evening however had suffered ‘severe physique trauma’.
Mr Estok warned police would ‘act’ on anybody backing the assassination on-line as he additionally pledged an enormous clampdown on safety.
Mr Fico rails towards immigration and LGBT points and has been unsparing in his assist for Russia in its warfare towards Ukraine.
He has reversed the earlier Slovakian authorities’s stance on the Ukraine battle and referred to as for navy assist to Kyiv to stop.
The prime minister was airlifted to a close-by hospital after struggling gunshot wounds to the arm and abdomen
He has additionally turn out to be an in depth ally of Hungary’s premier Viktor Orban, one other refusenik inside Nato and the European Union.
Final evening, given his opposition to the battle in neighbouring Ukraine, there was hypothesis on-line suggesting the taking pictures may have been ordered by Kyiv.
The chief of Slovakia’s pro-European and pro-Nato opposition occasion was pressured to situation a public denial that he had something to do with the assassination try. Mr Fico has additionally provoked fury along with his leftist Path occasion’s plans to provide authorities full management of public radio and TV. The alleged gunman made a ‘confession’ in custody the place he blamed this crackdown for the supposed assassination try.
Russia is predicted to hunt to politicise the taking pictures by suggesting politicians in EU and in Nato states who dare to problem the orthodoxy surrounding assist for Ukraine are not protected.
Former chairman of the Commons defence committee, Tobias Ellwood, mentioned: ‘As Slovakia more and more comes beneath risk from Russia’s affect this tragic incident may simply be used as justification to introduce comparable draconian restrictions as we now see in Hungary and Belarus.’
Western nations condemned the assault on Mr Fico. US President Joe Biden mentioned it was a ‘horrific act of violence’.
President Zelensky added: ‘We strongly condemn this act of violence towards our neighbouring accomplice state’s head of presidency.’ Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Fee, mentioned: ‘Such acts of violence haven’t any place in our society and undermine democracy.’
