Slovakian PM Robert Fico Suffers Bullet Injury; PM Modi Says 'Deeply Shocked'

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered a bullet injury after being shot at by an assailant. He was hospitalised and survived the surgery, says the latest report. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the incident. Fico is currently fighting for his life in hospital. Multiple shots were fired at him in a small town of Bratislava. Slovakia's Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said that the surgery took more than three hours and PM's condition is still critical. 

The moment when a man shot Slovakia PM Robert Fico. pic.twitter.com/pvSeSXAaEC

— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) May 15, 2024

"Deeply shocked at the news of the shooting at Slovakia’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Robert Fico. I strongly condemn this cowardly and dastardly act and wish PM Fico a speedy recovery. India stands in solidarity with the people of the Slovak Republic," said PM Modi.

Deeply shocked at the news of the shooting at Slovakia’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Robert Fico. I strongly condemn this cowardly and dastardly act and wish PM Fico a speedy recovery. India stands in solidarity with the people of the Slovak Republic. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2024

The attack happened when PM Fico was greeting people in front of a cultural community centre following a government meeting. According to reports and the video footage, a man standing in the front row raised a gun and fired five times at the prime minister before being subdued by Fico's bodyguards. Other security officials took Fico into his car and after that he was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital before being flown to another hospital in Banska Bystrica.

While the security agencies are yet to confirm the identity of the accused, unconfirmed media reports claimed him to be a 71-year-old writer and political activist.