Following the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovakia’s Interior Minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, provided crucial details, stating that the attacker fired five shots at Fico, leaving him in critical condition.

Šutaj-Eštok asserted that preliminary findings strongly indicate a political motive behind the attack, particularly in the wake of Slovakia’s recent presidential election. He urged both journalists and politicians to refrain from perpetuating hate speech on social media platforms.

Addressing the media, Šutaj-Eštok said, “What has started now was sown by many of you, by your hate.” This call to action underscores the minister’s concern over the detrimental effects of inflammatory rhetoric circulating online.

As investigations into the assassination attempt unfold, authorities continue to highlight the importance of fostering a culture of civility and respect in public discourse, especially within the digital realm.

Expressing shock and solidarity, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed his thoughts, stating, “All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced the attack, highlighting that violence cannot be normalised. He condemned the assault on Slovakia’s head of government and called for concerted efforts to uphold peace and stability.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her “deep shock” Wednesday after Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico was shot and taken to hospital.

Watch: Moments after Slovak PM Robert Fico got shot in broad daylight

“I learned with deep shock the news of the cowardly attack,” she said in a statement that also stressed the Italian government’s “strongest condemnation of all forms of violence and attacks on the cardinal principles of democracy and freedom”.

Slovakia’s president-elect, Peter Pellegrini, condemned the assassination attempt, saying its is a threat to the country’s democratic principles. He urged for respectful discourse in democratic processes.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he was “shocked and appalled by the shooting” of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday.

“I wish him strength for a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia,” Stoltenberg wrote on X.

Blaming the media and progressives, Ľuboš Blaha, Slovakia’s deputy speaker of parliament, linked today’s incident to broader societal factors, as reported by Aktuality.

German scholar Olaf Scholz expressed shock at the ‘cowardly’ attack on Prime Minister Fico, saying that violence has no place in European politics.

Echoing similar sentiments, Prime Ministers Peter Orpo of Finland and Kaja Kallas of Estonia condemned the violence, reaffirming their commitment to democracy and expressing solidarity with Fico and his family.

European Council President Charles Micheal condemned the attack, stressing that violence can never be justified.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala echoed the sentiment, highlighting the need to reject violence unequivocally.

Fico, who was conscious after the incident, received initial treatment for bullet wounds at a hospital in Handlova before being transferred to a higher-level facility, according to a hospital spokesperson cited by Reuters.