Until now, the Slovakian authorities had spoken of a “lone wolf.” Now it is said that the man who is said to have shot Prime Minister Fico may not have been a lone perpetrator after all. Fico is now out of danger.
The man who critically injured Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday may have had backers or at least accomplices. Several members of the government made corresponding statements.
“We have put together a team of investigators who will also work with the version that this was not a lone wolf,” Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok told journalists. One of the indications for this is that content on the perpetrator's Facebook page was deleted at the time when he was in the hands of the police. He himself did not have access to the page at that time. His wife was also unable to access it at that time, the minister explained.
“Acted in favor of the perpetrator”
Defense Minister Robert Kalinak also made similar suggestions, without being more specific. Another party may have “acted in favor of the perpetrator,” said Kalinak.
Until now, the authorities had always spoken of a lone perpetrator. “He is a lone wolf who recently became radicalized during the presidential election campaign,” said Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok on Thursday. Estok also confirmed that investigations are now being conducted in another direction.
Suspect charged with attempted murder
According to media reports, the suspected assassin who was arrested is 71 years old, a former security guard and amateur author of poetry books. He was charged with attempted murder. A court decided on Saturday that the suspect should remain in custody.
Fico was shot five times during an encounter with citizens on Wednesday. He suffered life-threatening injuries. Doctors now describe his condition as serious, but no longer life-threatening.
