The suspect in the assassination attempt against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico acted alone and had taken part in anti-government protests, Interior Minister Matus Sutai Estok told a news conference.

“This is a lone wolf who was radicalized in the last period after the presidential election,” he said.

Meanwhile, Slovakian police on Thursday charged the alleged perpetrator of the attack on Robert Fitzo with attempted murder, which carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

The motive for the killing for the 71-year-old author was said to be disagreement with the current government’s policy and the changes it has made or was about to make.

For this crime, if convicted, he faces a minimum of 25 years to life in prison.

According to eyewitnesses, at least five shots were fired when the center-left nationalist populist head of government was attacked.

Interior Minister Estok also commented on Wednesday that the motive for the attack was “political”.

The prime minister of Slovakia escaped danger

Robert Ficho escaped the danger as stated by the Minister of Environment of Slovakia, Tomas Taraba. Specifically, speaking to the BBC, he said: “I believe that in the end he will survive. His life is not in danger at the moment,” he pointed out.

It is the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader in more than 20 years to be condemned internationally, with politicians and MPs saying it demonstrates the increasingly polarized political climate across the continent.

The gunman shot 59-year-old Fico during a visit to the Slovak town of Hadlova, seriously injuring him, with the former Russian leader and current Slovakian prime minister undergoing hours-long surgery late yesterday.

Slovak media reported that the alleged attacker, 71, is Juraj Tsindula, the author of three collections of poetry and a member of the Slovak Writers’ Union, as well as a former mall security guard. According to the Aktuality.sk network, his son stated that his father was legally licensed to carry a firearm.

The incident raised questions about the organization of Fitzo’s personal security, as the attacker managed to shoot five times at close range despite the prime minister being accompanied by several bodyguards.