ENTRE News – Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has opened his voice regarding the suspect in the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico in the city of Handlova. Estok responded to allegations that had been circulating that the perpetrator was a 71 year old writer from Europe.
“I think I can confirm this, yes,” said Estok on Wednesday (15/5), quoted by NDTV.
A number of media said the suspect was the founder of the DUHA (Pelangi) Literature Club FOR4D from Levice City. Some reports also said the suspect had written three poetry collections and was an official member of the Slovak Writers’ Association.
The Slovak Writers’ Association confirmed that the man had been a member since 2015. They then stated that if his identity as the suspected shooter was confirmed, his membership would be immediately cancelled. Meanwhile, the suspect’s son admitted that he did not know anything about his father’s actions.
“[I] have absolutely no idea what was thinking, what was planned, and why it happened,” he said
He then said that the father was a legally registered gun owner. The confirmation from the Slovak Minister FOR4D of Home Affairs came after Fico was shot multiple times in the stomach on Tuesday. Now, he is in critical condition.
Not long after that, officers managed to arrest the perpetrator. At that time the identity of the perpetrator had not been revealed. Some media only depicted him as gray-haired and handcuffed. The shooting also shocked the international community. Some of them criticized the action and hoped that Fico would get better soon.