Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico Critical Following Shooting 

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is in critical condition after being shot following a political event on Wednesday afternoon. 

“Three or four” shots were heard. Fico acquired wounds to his head and chest. Local reports say he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

A suspect has been detained by police.

He was shot in a “politically motivated” assassination attempt when leaving a government meeting on Wednesday, the interior minister said.

Slovakia, a member of NATO and the European Union, has little history of political violence. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden joined Slovakia’s EU partners in expressing shock and condemnation of the shooting.