In a shocking incident, Slovak authorities have confirmed that the home of the man charged with shooting and seriously wounding Prime Minister Robert Fico was searched by the police on Friday. The alleged gunman, identified as 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula, was reportedly wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet when officers brought him to the apartment he shared with his wife in the western town of Levice.
The incident occurred on Wednesday as the 59-year-old Prime Minister was speaking to members of the public after a meeting in the central town of Handlova.
Eyewitness and train conductor Richard Krajcik recounted that Fico was stretching out his hand to greet the crowd when the gunman opened fire in quick succession.
Fico was immediately bundled into a nearby car by security guards and airlifted to a hospital, where he underwent a five-hour emergency surgery to save his life. President-elect Peter Pellegrini, who visited Fico at the hospital, stated that the Prime Minister remains in a serious condition, able to speak only a few sentences before becoming “really, really tired.”
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the politically polarized nation, raising concerns about potential further violence just weeks before the upcoming European parliament elections. Authorities continue their investigation into the motives behind this brazen attack on the country’s top political leader.
