We've just received reports that the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Rico has been taken to hospital after being shot. This is a developing news story, but here's everything we know so far:

Slovak PM Robert Fico was shot and taken to hospital after a cabinet meeting. The alleged assailant was detained by police, local media reports

It not known what condition the prime minister is currently in

The shooting took place in Handlova, about 180km north east of the capital of Bratislava

Local journalists reported hearing several shots fired

Stay with us as we continue to cover this breaking news story.

edit: Initial information about the suspect has been released-

Police detained the suspect after Fico was shot in the central town of Handlova

The BBC's local correspondent, Rob Cameron, says we're hearing the attacker is 71 years old from a village in central Slovakia

The pistol the shots were fired from was reportedly legally held

The attacker's motive is not yet known

A video shows civilians and guards detaining the suspect outside the cultural centre in Handlova The man, wearing a pale blue shirt, was then seen sitting on the ground, hands tied behind his back

  • SacredExcrement [any, comrade/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    6 months ago

    While I can't say I feel bad, it is a little interesting that one of the more vocal opponents to Ukraine got shot while his country borders Ukraine and they're openly desperate now that the US is backing off

    But based on his views and actions there are a lot of people who probably want to shoot him

    • happybadger [he/him]
      hexagon
      ·
      6 months ago

      It's going to be interesting if this has some kind of Ukraine connection instead of it being a domestic thing. I could see it really galvanising opposition to the war.

      • SacredExcrement [any, comrade/them]
        ·
        6 months ago

        I'd think they wouldn't be that stupid, but so many of them can't help but have obviously fascist iconography in full camera view, so...

      • SacredExcrement [any, comrade/them]
        ·
        6 months ago

        They probably won't for a while, they typically don't (unless you're a black male in the US)

        I'm purely speculating, since it really seems like western press has taken to simply labeling him pro-Russia