Analysis: Slovakia a nation in shock – as Fico remains in serious condition – The situation in Slovakia is “extremely tense” as Robert Fico remains in a “grave condition,” says our Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins in Bratislava. “We know that doctors have been fighting to save his life, that he’s had to have emergency operations,” she says. “Now, the police are trying to find out what motivated this attack, as the president calls it, an attack on democracy.”

Slovakia is a nation “in shock”, she adds. Pictures and footage from the scene shows those around the prime minister had “no warning and no awareness” that an attack was going to happen, Robbins says. Several videos have emerged today of the scene – and the aftermath – as Robert Fico was shot several times and severely wounded. One video shows the moment the suspect, believed to be a man in his 70s, pointed a gun at the Slovak prime minister and fired it. Other footage showed the suspect being detained, and a security team bundling the injured politician into a car.

Serbian president prays for Fico after ‘tormenting attack’ – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says he’s praying Robert Fico will be granted “long life” after the “tormenting attack”. He wished the prime minister well after the suspected assassination attempt. “We all pray together for the health and recovery of our brother and friend Robert Fico and that God will grant him a long life after this tormenting attack,” Mr Vucic said. “We are talking about a man who is one of the few free and libertarian leaders in Europe,” he said. (Photo: Robert Fico).

Police and press outside hospital – As night falls, this is the scene outside the hospital in Banska Bystrica as Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is treated for “critical” injuries. A cordon is in place and police and security officers are standing guard. Members of the press are also waiting outside. Former Slovak PM says shooting suspect was ‘radicalised’ – Former Slovak prime minister Eduard Heger has echoed condemnation of the attack, saying there is “no room for violence in a democratic society”.

Speaking to Sky News’ The World with Yalda Hakim, Mr Heger said the latest information suggests the suspect in the shooting was “radicalised” by a movement within Slovakia. “We see that in Slovakia. There is a very high polarisation, but it’s not present only in Slovakia is also present… in other countries as well. “This is definitely not a good situation for any political debate in any country,” he says. Asked whether he saw Robert Fico as challenging democracy in his country, Mr Heger said the focus should be on the prime minister’s health while he remains in hospital, and the security of citizens and politicians in Slovakia.

Witness describes moment shots rang out – More eyewitness reports from the scene to bring you now. One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Associated Press that the gunshots sounded like “cannonballs”. There were maybe four people standing next to me on my left,” she said. And we’ve already reached out like that, and we said hello [to Fico], and at that point, something like literally a cannonball… like cannonballs to me. “[I felt] shock, what’s going on? “And as I saw him fall, I realised that this probably wasn’t a joke, I just saw over his head as he fell behind the bench like that,” she said. (Photo: Gun man is a 71 years old man arrested).

Robert Fico: Slovakia Prime Minister in Life-Threatening Condition After Being Shot Multiple Times

Mr Fico was attacked after leaving a meeting – with five shots fired and a bloodied man detained at the scene. Slovakia’s government says it was an “assassination attempt” and that the coming hours are critical. Slovakia’s prime minister is fighting for his life and undergoing surgery after being shot multiple times. Robert Fico was airlifted to hospital and a suspect, reported to be 71 years old, was detained at the scene. The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon in Handlova, about 85 miles (136km) from the capital Bratislava, after a meeting at a cultural centre.

Slovakia‘s interior minister said there was a “clear political motivation” behind the attack, while local TV said Mr Fico was hit in the stomach. The 59-year-old was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a larger facility in Banska Bystrica. “The next few hours will decide,” said a post on Mr Fico’s Facebook page.

Courtesy: Sky News