Video shows moment Slovak PM shot multipletimes by 71-year-old gunman | BBC News

The Prime Minister of Slovakia has undergone hoursof emergency surgery after being shot multiple timeswhile leaving a government meeting and passingthrough crowds of people in the town of Handlova.

Robert Fico was said to have been stabilised following"life threatening injuries". It's reported that five bulletswere fired and he was hit in the stomach, arm and leg.

The suspect, a 71-year-old man, was arrested at thescene. Slovak media reports said he had worked as asecurity guard at a shopping mall and that the attackmay have been politically motivated.

Slovakia has become increasingly polarised underRobert Fico's government. His populist party began onthe left but has moved increasingly to the right. It isanti-EU, against sending aid to Ukraine and againstLGBTQ rights. His government is currently seeking toclose down the national public broadcaster which itaccuses of not being objective and creating politicaldivisions.Opposition parties say many of Mr Fico'sgovernment's measures are a threat to democracy.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reportingby Bethany Bell in Bratislava and Katya Adler in Brussels.