Assassination attempt on Slovak PM
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, back in power after his party's election win last year, chaired a government meeting in Handlova. Shots were fired afterward, and Fico sustained multiple gunshot wounds, described as an assassination attempt on PM. (Reuters photo)
Fico targeted in close-range shooting
Videos captured the shooting, depicting Fico, 59, approaching a small group of individuals behind a waist-high metal barrier. Suddenly, an older man stepped forward and discharged a handgun from just a few feet away. (Reuters photo)
Security personnel detained suspect
Video footage from AFPTV captured two guards assisting Fico, carrying him by his arms, while other guards swiftly opened the doors to a black Mercedes limousine that quickly departed. The footage also depicted security personnel detaining a man in jeans who was lying on the ground in handcuffs. (Reuters photo)
Emergency services dispatched after attack
Emergency services dispatched a helicopter to Handlova after receiving reports of a 59-year-old man being shot. (Reuters photo)
Gunshots outside cultural center in Handlova
Gunshots rang out near a cultural center in Handlova, a town approximately 140 kilometers northeast of the capital, according to government sources. Fico was injured during a government meeting in the town, which is home to 16,000 residents and was historically known for its coal mining industry. (Reuters photo)
Assassination attempt raised alarm in Europe
The attempted assassination fueled concerns that Europe's escalating polarized and hostile political discourse had escalated into violence. (Reuters photo)
Slovak President expressed shock over incident
Slovak President Zuzana Caputova expressed dismay at the assault on her political rival and condemned it as a "violent and irresponsible attack." (Reuters photo)