Mark Rutte “shocked” by shooting of Slovak PM Robert Fico, who was critically wounded
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was “shocked” by the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, an incident which left Fico with life-threatening injuries. He was gunned down in Handlova, and transported to a hospital there. Fico was then airlifted to a hospital in Banská Bystrica, the government of Slovakia announced.
One person was arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place after a government meeting. The prime minister was struck by gunfire as he shook hands outside. He suffered injuries to his abdomen, the deputy speaker of Slovakia’s parliament said.
News site Pravda published a video showing the aftermath of the incident. Fico, who seemed to be unable to stand on his own, was taken away by his security detail in a car. In the meantime, officers arrested someone lying on the ground. The prime minister’s condition was not immediately clear in the immediate aftermath.
Slovak President Zuzana Caputová condemned the attack on the head of government there. “Utterly shocked by today’s brutal attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms,” she wrote. “I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones.”
Politicians in the Netherlands reacted swiftly with condemnation over the shooting. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote, “Shocked by the shooting of my long time colleague Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia. I wish him much strength, my thoughts are with him and his family.”
D66 leader Rob Jetten called it a “cowardly attack,” writing, “This is not just an attack on a head of government. This is an attack on democracy. Let us together hope for a quick recovery.”
GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans also reacted with concern. “I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice.”
“Very worrying reports,” said the leader of Volt in the Netherlands, Laurens Dassen. “A direct attack on European democracy and our shared freedom and security. I hope for his speedy recovery.” His sentiments were shared by PvdD leader Esther Ouwehand.
"I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico," wrote Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. "Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family."
