Slovakia’s prime minister remains in hospital in a critical condition after being shot several times in an attempted assassination.

Robert Fico was reported to be fighting for his life after being hit in the stomach on Wednesday.

At least four shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, around 85 miles northeast of the capital Bratislava, where the 59-year-old was meeting supporters, the government said.

A 71-year-old suspect is in custody, but the motive for the shooting is still unclear.

Who is Slovak prime minister Robert Fico?

A message posted to Mr Fico’s Facebook account said he was taken to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, 17 miles from Handlova, because it would take too long to get to Bratislava.

The attack comes as political campaigning heats up three weeks ahead of Europe-wide elections to choose members for the European Parliament.

Who is Slovak populist prime minister Robert Fico?

Robert Fico: Slovakia prime minister in life-threatening condition after being shot multiple times

Mr Fico’s return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American ticket led to worries among fellow EU and NATO members that he would turn his country further away from the Western mainstream.

Under his stewardship, the government has halted arms deliveries to Ukraine, and his opponents worry he will lead Slovakia in the footsteps of Viktor Orban’s Hungary.

Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest against Mr Fico’s policies.

Concern is mounting that populist and nationalists similar to Mr Fico could make gains in the 27-member bloc.

“A physical attack on the prime minister is, first of all, an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy,” outgoing president and political rival of Mr Fico, Zuzana Caputova, said in a statement.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we’ve been witnessing in society leads to hateful actions. Please, let’s stop it.”

President-elect Peter Pellegrini, an ally of the new prime minister, called the shooting “an unprecedented threat to Slovak democracy.

“If we express other political opinions with pistols in squares, and not in polling stations, we are jeopardising everything that we have built together over 31 years of Slovak sovereignty.”

Joe Biden said he was alarmed, adding that the US “condemn this horrific act of violence”.

Read more from Sky News
‘This is just the first wave’: Drones reveal new attack
Putin seizes chance as Ukraine waits for weapons

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg posted on X that he was “shocked and appalled” by the attempt on Mr Fico’s life.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a “vile attack”.

Mr Fico, a third-time premier, and his left wing Smer, or Direction, party won Slovakia’s parliamentary elections in September.

But politics have been aside in the wake of the shooting, with Slovakia’s parliament adjourned until further notice.

Related posts:

Two Spanish journalists and Irish citizen killed in Burkina Faso attack Thousands protest across Brazil over Bolsonaro’s handling of COVID ‘Lab accidents happen’: WHO calls for more transparency from China about COVID origins Several people killed and others injured in bow and arrow attacks in Norway Austria to impose lockdown on all unvaccinated from midnight Russia launches invasion of Ukraine as Biden says the ‘prayers of the world’ are with them Chicago shooting suspect confessed to police ahead of court appearance, state attorney says China is biggest ‘game-changing challenge’, MI5 and FBI heads warn Grandmother who thought she was going to die among angry tourists stranded in Rhodes Unqualified support of Israel’s allies is no longer a given – with marked shift in rhetoric | Diana Magnay Armed gang ‘storms hospital and takes hundreds of hostages including newborn babies’ Cameron loath to ‘lecture’ US over Ukraine – after Republican’s ‘kiss my a**’ remark