Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has been reportedly shot and wounded, according to local reports.
The incident took place in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a government meeting, as reported by the news agency TASR on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred in the vicinity of the House of Culture. A witness, speaking to Reuters, reported seeing a man being apprehended by the police. A local journalist for the Slovakian news site Dennik stated that Fico had stepped out of the building to engage with the crowd that had assembled to see him when several shots were fired.
The Prime Minister reportedly collapsed following the gunfire. An eyewitness, who had been in the crowd to greet Fico, told The Herald, "I was just going to shake his hand, when the shots rang out it almost deafened me."
The alleged perpetrator was swiftly apprehended by the police at the scene. The area was subsequently cordoned off and the House of Culture was evacuated. A witness for Reuters reported seeing security officials forcing someone into a vehicle and speeding away.
In the aftermath of the shocking incident, the leader of the liberal political party Progressive Slovakia, expressed his condemnation of the act of violence. He stated, "We unequivocally and strongly condemn any violence. We trust that Prime Minister Fico will be fine and that this terrible act will be brought to light as soon as possible."
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