Slovakian prime minister shot in 'brutal' attack while meeting supporters-breaking

[Gefn]

Slovakia's prime minster Robert Fico is in a life-threatening condition after being shot.

He has been taken to hospital by helicopter in what has been described as a crucial few hours for the Slovak premier.

The incident took place outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, where Mr Fico had been meeting supporters.

A suspect has been detained.


https://news.sky.com/story/slovakian-prime-minister-shot-in-brutal-attack-while-meeting-supporters-13136156

[Gefn]

Feed for live news.

 https://news.sky.com/story/updates-slovakia-prime-minister-robert-fico-in-hospital-after-shooting-13136433


It's breaking on all the European wires I follow- but not a peep on any US wires  yet.

Condition is "life threatening" according to Sky

[catfish1957]

A nation's leader is mortally shot, and we don't hear about it on our news feeds?

Incredible.

[Hoodat]

Archduke Ferdinand?

[catfish1957]

Archduke Ferdinand?

from the wiki page it was kind of hard to extract his political leanings.  Seems he is pro-Israel, anti-Muslim , not pro-Ukraine, left of center domestic policy,  pro-EU, and seems to warm to Russia, but not overtly.

Not sure how any of this plays into this attempt, but i understand the perp was nabbed, so I am guessing more to follow.

[Gefn]

A nation's leader is mortally shot, and we don't hear about it on our news feeds?

Incredible.

@catfish1957

CNN and Wall Street Journal, New York Times  just picked it up about 15 minutes ago. It's trending all over now.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/15/europe/slovakia-prime-minister-fico-shooting-intl/index.html

[Cyber Liberty]

[Timber Rattler]

Ukrainian hit?

Slovakia’s Robert Fico is a political heavyweight with pro-Russian views

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-slovakias-robert-fico-is-a-political-heavyweight-with-pro-russian/

[mountaineer]

I read that the shooter is a 71 y/o "progressive" poet.

A poet?!??

[PeteS in CA]

A nation's leader is mortally shot, and we don't hear about it on our news feeds?

Incredible.

I did something bizarre, I DDGed the phrase "prime minster Robert Fico shot". In the search results I found articles from CNN, USA Today, NBC News, NPR, NYT, AP, WashPost, CBS News, Bloomberg, NYP, Mediaite, several regional outlets in NorCal, and ABC News. And probably more. Noticing Fox News wasn't among the results I went there, and the story is currently at the top of Fox's "World" page, https://www.foxnews.com/world .

[PeteS in CA]

Ukrainian hit?

Slovakia’s Robert Fico is a political heavyweight with pro-Russian views

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-slovakias-robert-fico-is-a-political-heavyweight-with-pro-russian/

Or The Vaccine? Throwing out speculations just obscures the facts when they emerge.

[mountaineer]

‘Orban Next!’ Pro-Ukraine Accounts Celebrate Assassination Attempt on Slovak PM Fico.

Pro-Ukraine social media accounts are cheering the shooting of Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia. The 59-year-old European Union (EU) and NATO leader, an ally of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, has opposed continuing to fund the Western proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, as well as the sanctions duel that has disrupted European energy supplies while having no meaningful impact on Russia’s growing economy.

“Hero!” declared one user of the suspect. He posted a separate message asking, “Victor [sic] Orban you watching?” — as if to suggest the Trump ally, who also opposes open-ended support for Ukraine, will be shot if he doesn’t change his stance.

Other users echoed this sentiment, with one user posting “Orban should take notice” and many users, often with the Ukrainian flag by their name, posting messages reading “Orban next” or “Orban is next.”  ... https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/05/15/orban-next-pro-ukraine-accounts-celebrate-assassination-attempt-on-slovak-pm-fico/?feed_id=4916&_unique_id=6644f883b42bc

[catfish1957]

Ukrainian hit?

Slovakia’s Robert Fico is a political heavyweight with pro-Russian views

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-slovakias-robert-fico-is-a-political-heavyweight-with-pro-russian/

Strange guy, and I had a tough time extracting a political path from the guy on his wiki-page.  You are right, from that page he leans more toward Russia than Ukraine, but in the same article is pro-EU.  Sounds like he is more of an opportunist rather than a ideologue. 

[catfish1957]

Archduke Ferdinand?

Just a few breaking snippets off european feeds....

*Several local pols are vaguely calling this politically motivated.
* Shooter was a 71 year old ex security guard.
* Has been in surgery 3 hours, and wounds are still considered life threatening


Ferdinand?  Good chance.  For two years this thing has been a powder keg just waiting for some line to be crossed.  I sure hope this thing doesn't end up in a quick "choosing of sides" and escalation.

[libertybele]

Praying for peacefulness. 

[Gefn]

Here's a video of it-  in this article

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/slovakian-prime-minister-shot-and-wounded-7329631d



as I post this he has been in surgery for quite some time- apparently he was shot 5 times.

[libertybele]

Here's a video of it-  in this article

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/slovakian-prime-minister-shot-and-wounded-7329631d



as I post this he has been in surgery for quite some time- apparently he was shot 5 times.

Chilling - you can hear the 5 shots in the video - 5 shots is quite traumatic.  I hope he pulls through.  A long surgery isn't exactly a good sign.

[rustynail]

Five Presidents Who Opposed Covid Vaccines Have Conveniently Died, Been Replaced by Pro-Vaxxers

https://newsrescue.com/five-presidents-who-opposed-covid-vaccines-have-conveniently-died-been-replaced-by-pro-vaxxers/