٠٠:٠٢:٤٨Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj-Estok suggested that the authorities were working on the assumption that the so-called 'lone wolf' suspect involved in the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico had not acted alone, ahead of a meeting of the Security Council in Bratislava on Wednesday.
"We are also working with the version that it was not the wolf itself, it is a matter for the investigation team. I will not comment on these things at all. It is also at the request of the supervising prosecutor. I won't tell you anything more about it," he said.
On Sunday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak also claimed that a 'third party' was involved. Last Thursday, Estok said that the authorities were 'currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act' and said that the suspension of military aid to Ukraine was one of the reasons.
Estok also stated that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
Footage shows other officials arriving including Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba.
President of the Police Corps Lubomir Solak, Deputy Head of the Slovak Information Service Pavel Gaspar, Chief of Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko and Prosecutor General Maros Zllinka were also seen entering.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova last Wednesday. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information.'
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.
Not just a 'lone wolf' - Interior minister on claims 'third party' involved in 'political' Fico shooting ahead of Security Council
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj-Estok suggested that the authorities were working on the assumption that the so-called 'lone wolf' suspect involved in the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico had not acted alone, ahead of a meeting of the Security Council in Bratislava on Wednesday.
"We are also working with the version that it was not the wolf itself, it is a matter for the investigation team. I will not comment on these things at all. It is also at the request of the supervising prosecutor. I won't tell you anything more about it," he said.
On Sunday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak also claimed that a 'third party' was involved. Last Thursday, Estok said that the authorities were 'currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act' and said that the suspension of military aid to Ukraine was one of the reasons.
Estok also stated that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
Footage shows other officials arriving including Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba.
President of the Police Corps Lubomir Solak, Deputy Head of the Slovak Information Service Pavel Gaspar, Chief of Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko and Prosecutor General Maros Zllinka were also seen entering.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova last Wednesday. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information.'
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj-Estok suggested that the authorities were working on the assumption that the so-called 'lone wolf' suspect involved in the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico had not acted alone, ahead of a meeting of the Security Council in Bratislava on Wednesday.
"We are also working with the version that it was not the wolf itself, it is a matter for the investigation team. I will not comment on these things at all. It is also at the request of the supervising prosecutor. I won't tell you anything more about it," he said.
On Sunday, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak also claimed that a 'third party' was involved. Last Thursday, Estok said that the authorities were 'currently working with only one version of the attack […] that it was a politically motivated act' and said that the suspension of military aid to Ukraine was one of the reasons.
Estok also stated that the suspect blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council, the closure of the public broadcaster as well as the suspension of military aid to Ukraine as reasons for the attack.
Footage shows other officials arriving including Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba.
President of the Police Corps Lubomir Solak, Deputy Head of the Slovak Information Service Pavel Gaspar, Chief of Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko and Prosecutor General Maros Zllinka were also seen entering.
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova last Wednesday. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
The Fico government has proposed new laws concerning public broadcasting, NGOs, and corruption, sparking protests. Fico himself argued that the broadcasting reforms were necessary to safeguard 'the public's access to unbiased information.'
Fico, aged 59, was elected in September 2023 for his fourth term as PM. He campaigned on a platform advocating an end to military aid for Ukraine, which put him at odds with Western leaders. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the provision of arms to Kiev, advocating instead for the US and other parties to use their influence to negotiate a peace agreement.