Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured in a shooting after a government meeting on Wednesday, according to media reports.
'Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment': Polish PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post on the X social media platform: "Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment."
'I am shocked by the attack': Polish FM
Poland's top diplomat Radosław Sikorski wrote: "I am shocked by the attack on the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. I hope for the Prime Minister's speedy recovery and for the clarification of all circumstances surrounding this terrible event."
'Such acts of violence have no place in our society': EU's von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen strongly condemned "the vile attack," she said on X.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
"Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good," she added. "My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family."
'Nothing can ever justify violence': EU's Michel
European Council President Charles Michel said on X he was shocked by the news.
"Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks," Michel said.
Slovak PM shot and injured: reports
Fico was shot and injured when he emerged from a Cabinet meeting in the town of Handlová in the west of the country, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported, citing Slovak media.
He was rushed to a hospital with multiple injuries, including one to the abdomen, according to preliminary reports.
A witness cited by the Reuters news agency said he heard several shots and that he saw a man being detained by police.
The witness said he saw security officials pushing someone into a car and driving off, Reuters reported.
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Source: IAR, polskieradio24.pl, PAP, Reuters