Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico shot, assailant in custody
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was shot with a pistol by 71-year-old Juraj C. The assailant was apprehended and is currently in custody. During the initial police interrogation, the man confessed to the crime and expressed remorse in subsequent statements. He also provided the motive for the attack.
The attack on the Prime Minister of Slovakia took place on Wednesday, 15 May. Robert Fico was shot multiple times after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova.
In an official statement, it was announced that Robert Fico "was shot multiple times and is in a life-threatening condition". "I can confirm that there was an attempt on the Prime Minister's life," said a spokesperson for the Slovakian Ministry of Internal Affairs in a conversation with the Reuters agency.
The suspect in the case was detained. He is 71-year-old Juraj C. The man said he did not agree with Fico’s government policies. Juraj C. is accused of attempted murder with premeditation and is temporarily detained.
Attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, perpetrator speaks out
The man is said to have confessed to the crime during the initial police interrogation and expressed remorse in subsequent statements. He admitted that he intended to seriously injure Robert Fico but not kill him.
Juraj C. said he is aware that his act was "completely unacceptable." He regrets deciding to shoot the Prime Minister and admits that instead, "he should have given him a book he had prepared for him." He also expressed a desire to apologize to the head of the Slovakian government.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Robert Kaliniak, believes that the media is to blame for the societal divisions that led to the attack.
"Robert Fico has long been described with the worst adjectives, depicted as evil on billboards," said Robert Kaliniak.
