00:21A helicopter could be seen airlifting Slovak PM Robert Fico to hospital in Banska Bystrica on Wednesday, after he was shot in Handlova on Wednesday.
Footage shows the helicopter flying into view, before manoeuvring round and disappearing into the distance above a range of trees.
The armed assault took place outside the House of Culture following a government meeting. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. 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'.
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 of ending 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.
Helicopter airlifts Fico to hospital following shooting, PM in life-threatening condition
A helicopter could be seen airlifting Slovak PM Robert Fico to hospital in Banska Bystrica on Wednesday, after he was shot in Handlova on Wednesday.
Footage shows the helicopter flying into view, before manoeuvring round and disappearing into the distance above a range of trees.
The armed assault took place outside the House of Culture following a government meeting. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. 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'.
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 of ending 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.
A helicopter could be seen airlifting Slovak PM Robert Fico to hospital in Banska Bystrica on Wednesday, after he was shot in Handlova on Wednesday.
Footage shows the helicopter flying into view, before manoeuvring round and disappearing into the distance above a range of trees.
The armed assault took place outside the House of Culture following a government meeting. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene, while no details have been released by police about a possible motive.
The country's Interior Ministry reported that it was an 'assassination attempt'. 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'.
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 of ending 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.