Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, suffered serious injuries in a shooting incident on Wednesday afternoon by an unidentified miscreant and has been hospitalised.
The incident occurred outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, approximately 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the 59-year-old leader was engaged in a meeting with supporters.
Reports indicate that Fico sustained injuries to the stomach after four shots were fired.
A suspect has been detained by authorities, who have cordoned off the scene for investigation.
Confirmation of the incident came from Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Lubos Blaha, who adjourned a parliamentary session until further notice in response to the news.
President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the PM. “I’m shocked,” Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.