The shooting of Robert Fico

Slovakia's prime minister underwent surgery for three hours after the shooting

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot in the town of Handlova. His injuries are considered life-threatening, according to a statement from the government office.

At 8 pm on Wednesday evening, the country's Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak states that Fico has been operated on for more than three hours and the situation is described as "extremely serious".

- We hope he is strong enough to handle this, says Kalinak according to the BBC.

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok adds that it is suspected that the assassination attempt was politically motivated, without adding any details.

A total of five shots were fired, several of which hit Fico. A suspected 71-year-old perpetrator was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Fico became Slovakia's prime minister after the election last fall and was then described as a pro-Russian populist. He has subsequently stopped aid to Ukraine and announced last month that he wants to shut down the public service channel RTVS.

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71-year-old is said to be behind the attempted murder of Fico: "Heard three quick shots"

It is a 71-year-old man who is suspected of having shot Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico earlier on Wednesday, Slovak media reports.

Witnesses describe how the perpetrator stood in a large crowd and shouted at Fico. When the prime minister came forward to say hello, the 71-year-old opened fire.

- We heard three shots. They came in close succession, like when someone sets off firecrackers, eyewitness Lubica Valkova told Reuters.

Slovakia's government staff stated earlier on Wednesday that Fico is life-threateningly injured and that he has been hit by several shots. The local newspaper Dennik N writes that further information about the prime minister's health is currently classified.

The 71-year-old was arrested after the shots and has been taken in for questioning. The motive behind the attack is still unknown.

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The attempted assassination of Robert Fico
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico no longer life-threateningly injured

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot in the town of Handlova. During the day, his injuries have been assessed as life-threatening, and at 10 p.m. Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba says that Fico's injuries are no longer life-threatening.

- I think he will survive, says Taraba to the BBC.

At 8 p.m., the country's defense minister, Robert Kalinak, stated that Fico had been operated on for more than three hours. The situation was then described as "extremely serious".

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok added that it is suspected that the assassination attempt was politically motivated, without adding any details.

A total of five shots were fired, several of which hit Fico. A suspected 71-year-old perpetrator was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Fico became Slovakia's prime minister after the election last fall and was then described as a pro-Russian populist. He has subsequently stopped aid to Ukraine and announced last month that he wants to shut down the public service channel RTVS.