01:52Police officers were seen patrolling outside of the F D Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in intensive care on Thursday after being shot five times in what the government termed an 'assassination' attempt.
According to both Slovak Minister of Defence, Robert Kalinak, and the hospital, doctors have stabilised the prime minister's condition - although it remains 'serious'.
The attack occurred after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova. The suspected gunman was reportedly among a small crowd of people waiting to greet the prime minister outside the cultural centre where the meeting was held.
Following the shooting, a post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'. He was airlifted to the hospital from the scene.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
Police guard Banska Bystrica Hospital as Slovak PM Fico reportedly fights for life following shooting incident
Police officers were seen patrolling outside of the F D Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in intensive care on Thursday after being shot five times in what the government termed an 'assassination' attempt.
According to both Slovak Minister of Defence, Robert Kalinak, and the hospital, doctors have stabilised the prime minister's condition - although it remains 'serious'.
The attack occurred after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova. The suspected gunman was reportedly among a small crowd of people waiting to greet the prime minister outside the cultural centre where the meeting was held.
Following the shooting, a post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'. He was airlifted to the hospital from the scene.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
Police officers were seen patrolling outside of the F D Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in intensive care on Thursday after being shot five times in what the government termed an 'assassination' attempt.
According to both Slovak Minister of Defence, Robert Kalinak, and the hospital, doctors have stabilised the prime minister's condition - although it remains 'serious'.
The attack occurred after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova. The suspected gunman was reportedly among a small crowd of people waiting to greet the prime minister outside the cultural centre where the meeting was held.
Following the shooting, a post on Fico's official social media stated that he 'has been shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition', while the 'next few hours will decide'. He was airlifted to the hospital from the scene.
The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
Handlova lies 150km northeast of the capital Bratislava.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.