Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was critically injured in an attempted assassination while greeting supporters at an event.

The shooting, which occurred in the town of Handlova, shocked the nation and sent ripples across Europe just weeks before an election.

Fico, a populist leader with pro-Russian leanings, was hit multiple times in the abdomen.

Doctors were still battling to save his life, describing his condition as “extraordinarily serious.”

The attack, involving five shots fired outside a cultural center, prompted swift action, with a suspect already in custody, the Associated Press has reported.

Government officials indicated a clear political motive behind the assassination attempt, emphasizing its significance amidst ongoing investigations.

Written by B.C. Begley