Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico shot multiple times, out of danger now

New Delhi : In an assassination attempt, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times when he was leaving from a government meeting on Wednesday.

59-year-old PM was shot five times by an assailant. He required immediate surgeries to avoid life-threatening condition. He is now stable and out of danger.

"I was utterly shocked ... fortunately as far as I know the operation went well - and I surmise in the end he will survive ... he's not in a life-threatening situation at this juncture," Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC's Newshour.

Meanwhile, some of the ministers have alleged that the assassination attempt is politically motivated.

According to media reports, the suspect was identified as a 71-year-old man who is a founder of the DUHA (Rainbow) Literary Club and was from the town of Levice. The reports, which also named him, said he has written three poetry collections and is a member of the official Association of Slovak Writers.

Fico has been dominating Slovakia since two decades and has often attracted criticism for taking pro-Russian stand during the Ukraine war.