Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a critical but stable condition after being shot on Wednesday, according to Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak.
"His condition was stabilised overnight by doctors,” said Kalinak, who is also Defence Minister. However, he confirmed Fico’s situation as "critical", due to complex injuries.
The 59-year-old leader underwent a five-hour surgery, revealed hospital Director Miriam Lapunikova. Fico will remain in intensive care.
Fico was "shot multiple times" on Wednesday afternoon, following a cabinet meeting in Handlova, central Slovakia. This attack has caused shockwaves in the Central European country and sparked international condemnation.
Kalinak has labelled the incident a "political attack", promising an appropriate response.
Authorities have charged the alleged attacker, a 71-year-old man who local media have identified as a writer, for attempted murder. At this stage, no information regarding his motive has been released.
There has been ample disinformation circulated on the attack on social media. Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi identified the suspect as having linked to a far-right pro-Russian paramilitary group that recently disbanded.
