prime minister robert fico. a physical attack on the prime minister is first of all an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. a country very much in shock today. one person i spoke to said this sort of thing simply doesn't happen here. i would like to thank all those emergency services and the doctors at the hospital who at this moment are still fighting for life of the prime minister. slovakia's prime minister remains in a life—threatening condition after being shot five times. robert fico was bundled into a car and airlifted to a hospital nearby. the attacker, reportedly a 71—year—old man, has been detained. the motive is said to be political.

we'll get reaction from bratislava, and we will discuss what it means 3 weeks from european elections. good evening. in the last hour doctors treating the slovakian prime minister robert fico, said he is still undergoing surgery and is in a critical condition. slovakia has always been known as a country of people who are tolerant, people who are accepting of other opinions and people who are always able to discuss. what happened today is a stigma which will haunt us for many years to come. but that is something that none of us think

about at the moment. all we are focusing on is the condition of the prime minister robert fico, and we hope that he is strong enough to deal with this drama. in the first place i would like to assure the public that we will make everything thatis public that we will make everything that is in our power to investigate this heinous crime. we are doing this heinous crime. we are doing this at the moment as we speak. the initial information we have clearly point to a political motivation and to a decision of the perpetrator shortly after the presidential election and we would like to appeal to the public, journalist and all

politicians to stop spreading hate. i would like to appeal to all citizens who after this unprecedented act, he must act still spread this hate to stop it. the prime minister _ spread this hate to stop it. the prime minister was shot five times in the attack. mr fico was attending a government meeting in the town of handlova, north—east of the capital, bratislava. mr fico was attending a government meeting in the town of handlova, north—east of the capital, bratislava. after the meeting, he came out to meet well—wishers who had gathered just outside. the shots were seemingly fired from within the crowd, some eye witnesses say they saw the prime ministerfall, before he was quickly lifted by his arms, and bundled into a car by his security detail. the suspect, reported to be a 71—year—old man, was quickly knocked to the ground, and arrested. the interior ministry said tonight the attack was politically motivated.

our correspondentjon donnison has this report. just moments after being shot, prime minister fico is dragged out of a flower bed and bundled into a car by his security team. eyewitnesses report hearing three or four bullets being fired. a few metres away, amid the panic, police wrestle a suspect to the ground. translation: i heard three shots - it was quick, one by one, _ like if you throw fire—crackers on the ground. i saw a scratch on the prime minister's head and then he fell next to the barrier. it's a nightmare. the 59—year—old was flown by helicopter to hospital. with officials saying his condition is life—threatening. a few hours later, the country's president addressed the nation. translation: i'm shocked, we are all shocked by - the terrible and vicious attack

on prime minister robert fico. a physical attack on the prime minister is first of all an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. hateful rhetoric, which we can see in society leads to hateful actions. please, stop it. prime minister fico, seen here earlier in the day, is a divisive figure — a populist politician, he has been accused of authoritarianism and being too close to russia. but, in slovakia's parliament this afternoon, there was condemnation for the attack from across the political spectrum. there was condemnation of the attack from across the political spectrum. translation: the attack - on the prime minister is terrible, uncivilised and brutal — pure evil. - this should provoke just one action — unite all society- against evil, hate and violence. the alleged attacker is now in police custody, where detectives will be trying to find out his motive and whether he acted alone.

jon donnison, bbc news. robert fico has served three stints as slovakia's prime minister, most recently returning to power after winning an election in september last year. he was previously forced out, in 2018, amid public outrage over the killing of a journalist who had been investigating ties between his associates and the calabrian mafia the ndrangata. but he staged an unlikely comeback exploiting the frustration over the rising cost of living, as well as the waning support there has been in his country for the war in nearby ukraine. since then he has faced widespread criticism for his pro—russian rhetoric, and the recent attempts to extend state control over the media. with me in the studio is a journalist. with me in the studio isjournalist and former cnn anchor, nina dos santos and the bbc�*s chief

international correspondent, lyse doucet. we could say it is a relatively young country, sasaki, but in recent years it has certainly taken via to the right in terms of its politics. even robert fico himself who is populist party began on the left and then over the past three decades it has veered to the right, his selection last year which was met with protests by more liberal pro—eu groups was within a eurosceptic coalition and month after month have seen the kind of policies that he campaigned on, saying there will be no military aid to ukraine although he later relented partly by allowing private companies, private military firms to provide some military support, calling for an end to sanctions against russia and this shocking, it seems it is clear it is an assassination attempt, came in

the midst of a protest against his new broadcast law which would abolish the broadcasting corporation turning it into upright media to support this guy, very much a eco viktor orban in hungary. no matter what the politics of those hints of aki and europe, weeks before the election, this authentic collective shock wave that arguments are part of democracy, not assassination attempt on to see this happening is attempt on to see this happening is a reminder of the deeply polarised political climate, notjust in slovakia, but also the dangers of social media and that was very much their business at the press conference.— their business at the press conference. ~ _, . ~ ., conference. we will come back to some of that _ conference. we will come back to some of that. if _ conference. we will come back to some of that. if you _ conference. we will come back to some of that. if you were - conference. we will come back to some of that. if you were to - conference. we will come back to some of that. if you were to look| some of that. if you were to look for a motive in this and look back at his political history, you can look in many different directions. he is a huge figure. you've been on the scene _ he is a huge figure. you've been on the scene since the late 1990s when

he founded the party, but he entered politics _ he founded the party, but he entered politics pre—1989, pre—the revolution, on the left side of the spectrum. — revolution, on the left side of the spectrum, he was originally a communist but he's been very nimble at capitalising on their populist headwinds that have become louder, particularly in this part of europe after_ particularly in this part of europe after a _ particularly in this part of europe after a country like hisjoined the eu, he _ after a country like hisjoined the eu, he first — after a country like hisjoined the eu, he first became prime minister in 2006. _ eu, he first became prime minister in2006, a— eu, he first became prime minister in 2006, a couple of years after to the hack— in 2006, a couple of years after to the back end of the countries acceded _ the back end of the countries acceded to the eu and he has been very adept — acceded to the eu and he has been very adept at talking a big game of anti-eu _ very adept at talking a big game of anti—eu rhetoric were taking the benefits — anti—eu rhetoric were taking the benefits of eu membership, ditto a relationship with the united states, youte _ relationship with the united states, youte now— relationship with the united states, you're now seeing this come into play over— you're now seeing this come into play over the last couple of years or so _ play over the last couple of years or so he — play over the last couple of years or so he has obviously started saying — or so he has obviously started saying that he is a sceptic on ukraine, _ saying that he is a sceptic on ukraine, he doesn't want the eu to support— ukraine, he doesn't want the eu to support ukraine in the way does. we actually— support ukraine in the way does. we actually want to keep to capitulate and cede _

actually want to keep to capitulate and cede territory to moscow so the war eventually over and they have espoused — war eventually over and they have espoused a very hard anti—immigration stance. all of this has cleaved — anti—immigration stance. all of this has cleaved slovakian society from one tied _ has cleaved slovakian society from one tied to — has cleaved slovakian society from one tied to the next and many people saym _ one tied to the next and many people saym 50_ one tied to the next and many people sa i i i ,, ., . ., , one tied to the next and many people sa , ,., say... so i can better understand him as a politician, _ say... so i can better understand him as a politician, is _ say... so i can better understand him as a politician, is he a - him as a politician, is he a political chameleon in one sense? has he changed because he sees which way the direction of the country is going already been dragged that way out of necessity because he has had to go into coalition with the ultranationalists? i to go into coalition with the ultranationalists?— to go into coalition with the ultranationalists? i think he was alwa s ultranationalists? i think he was always very _ ultranationalists? i think he was always very able _ ultranationalists? i think he was always very able to _ ultranationalists? i think he was always very able to read - ultranationalists? i think he was always very able to read the - ultranationalists? i think he was i always very able to read the room and capitalise on the political changes— and capitalise on the political changes of the day. and for instance. _ changes of the day. and for instance, take the 2008 bailout of euro zone — instance, take the 2008 bailout of euro zone crisis, he was very able them _ euro zone crisis, he was very able them to— euro zone crisis, he was very able them to try— euro zone crisis, he was very able them to try and use is leveraged to say during — them to try and use is leveraged to say during the eu summit to germany and france, _ say during the eu summit to germany and france, we want to seat at the table. _ and france, we want to seat at the table, eastern european countries,

countries _ table, eastern european countries, countries including poland, hungary and cheshire. he was a big fight around — and cheshire. he was a big fight around the table there advocating for a slightly more sovereign policy for a slightly more sovereign policy for them _ for a slightly more sovereign policy for them to have their own autonomy but also _ for them to have their own autonomy but also to— for them to have their own autonomy but also to benefit from eu membership and by the way, even though— membership and by the way, even though he — membership and by the way, even though he talks a big game against the eu, _ though he talks a big game against the eu, against nato he still decided _ the eu, against nato he still decided to take the euro 2009 even at a time _ decided to take the euro 2009 even at a time when the single currency was in _ at a time when the single currency was in crisis — at a time when the single currency was in crisis in some countries are getting _ was in crisis in some countries are getting bailed out.— getting bailed out. convenience, i would say- _ getting bailed out. convenience, i would say- i— getting bailed out. convenience, i would say. i was _ getting bailed out. convenience, i would say. i was looking - getting bailed out. convenience, i would say. i was looking at - getting bailed out. convenience, i would say. i was looking at some| getting bailed out. convenience, i. would say. i was looking at some of the reaction, they are calling for people to be calm and not seek out retribution. 0ne people to be calm and not seek out retribution. one such shock is dissipated, is there a risk so society becomes more divided? this is m first society becomes more divided? ti 3 is my first reflections on this very dangerous moment, you see on the internet this public square, a above

right across europe saying that this is an attack against democracy. everyone across the political spectrum in slovakia condemning this violence, this attack against the prime minister but so quickly we have seen the sniping. he was in full view in the press conference, yes, they called the candidate of the generalist, look at yourself in the generalist, look at yourself in the mirror, the kind of media that you have been putting on social media. some would say what robert fico and others were putting on social media outing in public, not the right time to be discussing this, but that also created this no holds barred vicious kind of political atmosphere. when we got the break and use when i first went on social media and i thought, what is a motive? there was a whole slew of posts on social media saying it was because he refused to accept a global pandemic coalition. his policy, criticising the vaccine, he

wanted to look into how to back it up wanted to look into how to back it up with the covid pandemic so that those old conspiracies are threading through. so danger in the assassination but danger in their reaction to the assassination. as we have said time and again, in disasters and crises like this it is not the crisis, it is how you respond to the crisis and this is in full flow right now and the alarm lighter blinking. ads, full flow right now and the alarm lighter blinking.— lighter blinking. a lot of information _ lighter blinking. a lot of information on - lighter blinking. a lot of information on social i lighter blinking. a lot of- information on social media about this 71—year—old man who is said to be the attacker, a lot of it we are trying to verify and we will bring you that when we have done that, but let me bring you some reaction from the russian president vladimir putin who sent a telegram to the outgoing backing president and described it as a monstrous crime.

not the sort of message you hear the russian leader often tending to european leaders, it tells you how closely aligned to. speak to the head of the centre for democracy and resilience based in bratislava. thank you for being with us. what are you learning tonight about the possible motive for this crime? thanks a lot for having me. so far we do not have too many details are confirmed. there are certain theories, including one stated by theories, including one stated by the ministry of interior that the motive has been political, but we do not have any kind of confirmation either directly from the attic. 0ne tv station has reportedly found a

video of him of the attacker criticising the government around a month ago but this hasn't been confirmed yet.— month ago but this hasn't been confirmed et. ., ., ., . , confirmed yet. you are at a security conference — confirmed yet. you are at a security conference held _ confirmed yet. you are at a security conference held annually _ confirmed yet. you are at a security conference held annually at - conference held annually at bratislava, so presumably you talk about how politics is changing in that part of europe. whether threats to him before? i there been any sort of attack on him before, anything that would have forewarned what was to come? mat that would have forewarned what was to come? ., ., ., ., , to come? not at all. that society has been already _ to come? not at all. that society has been already mentioned, - to come? not at all. that society has been already mentioned, it l to come? not at all. that society| has been already mentioned, it is very polarised, this is definitely true but we haven't seen any hatred or tax, strong verbal attacks against the prime minister in the online space are the real world but the truth is that public space and a public debate has been very full of hatred, especially talk

public debate has been very full of hatred, especiall— public debate has been very full of hatred, especially talk to me about the weeks preceding _ hatred, especially talk to me about the weeks preceding this. - hatred, especially talk to me about the weeks preceding this. was - hatred, especially talk to me about | the weeks preceding this. was there a reason, a tipping point for this assailant? might they have been something of the politics of recent weeks which pushed him over the edge? weeks which pushed him over the edue? ., , weeks which pushed him over the edie? ., , ~ , edge? there had been... the minister of interior has — edge? there had been... the minister of interior has mentioned _ edge? there had been... the minister of interior has mentioned that - edge? there had been... the minister of interior has mentioned that the - of interior has mentioned that the decision was made around the elections, the presidential elections. we havejust had presidential elections in april and we also had parliamentary elections in september so there was a lot of campaigning happening in the past even a year in slovakia and usually the campaigns are full of strong campaigning rhetoric, which is often lots of misinformation and dehumanisation of certain actors and individuals. but it is true that

since the government has taken over power, there have been attempts and legislation proposed to crack down on the public broadcaster, there have been increasing attacks on the standard mainstream media and also civil society organisations. in civil society organisations. in terms of security now within bratislava, the interior ministry said today that all politicians would have their security increase. do you sense there is a certain anxiety within the political family now in bratislava? i anxiety within the political family now in bratislava?— anxiety within the political family now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is- — now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is- i— now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is. i would _ now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is. i would say _ now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is. i would say there - now in bratislava? i would say there definitely is. i would say there is - definitely is. i would say there is an anxiety across society because it is definitely something that we haven't expected, no one expects such horrific act in democratic

civilised society and i do know that any activities of the parliament have been stalled for the moment and security has been increased but at the same time there is a suspicion this was a lone man asked, so that hasn't been perpetrated by a group of actors. taste hasn't been perpetrated by a group of actors. ~ ., ., ., of actors. we will have to leave it there. of actors. we will have to leave it there- thank _ of actors. we will have to leave it there. thank you for _ of actors. we will have to leave it there. thank you forjoining - of actors. we will have to leave it there. thank you forjoining us i of actors. we will have to leave it. there. thank you forjoining us this evening. and we would have plenty more about robert fico. around the world and across the uk, you were watching bbc news. for our uk viewers, take a quick look at the stories here today. junior doctors in england have entered talks with the government to try and end a long—running dispute over pay. the british medical association says itsjunior doctors' committee had entered a new "intensive phase of talks" with the government, facilitated by an external mediator. people across south devon have been advised to boil their tap water

after 22 cases of a diarrhoea—type illness have been confirmed by the uk health security agency. a further 70 suspected cases are also being investigated. the agency said the parasite was predominantly a waterborne disease. the home office has announced that it's expanding the rwanda deportation scheme to cover failed asylum seekers. under the original plan, only people who had arrived in the uk — on or after the first of january 2022 — could be deemed elibigle to be deported. failed asylum seekers are also eligible for a voluntary scheme announced last month. we are continuing to follow the news from slovakia tonight. robert fico still in a serious condition in hospital. let me take you back through his political career, which might bring some clarity as to how the 59—year—old leader first came to prominence in slovakia. he grew up in what was back then czechoslovakia —

a soviet state behind the iron curtain. he studied law, eventuallyjoining the communist party in 1986. after the velvet revolution in 1989, which brought down the communist regime, he continued his career in the party of the democratic left. the czech republic peacefully separated from slovakia in 1992. and not many years later he founded a left wing nationalist party known by the acronym smer. by 2006, they had won the biggest vote share at the general election. he became prime minister, leading a coalition of left—leaning parties, staying on in power until 2010. his second term 2012 and 2018 ended in huge controversy with an investigation into the links between his political allies and the italian mafia. but he was elected again to an unlikely third term in september last year. this time in coalition with the smaller ultranationalists the sns. whose leader does not believe russian—occupied territories are "historically ukraine". and so for a central european leader

whose political infancy was rooted in the fall of russia's hegemony, it seems odd he has befriended putin who considers the soviet collapse as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe". but like 0rban he has taken his party more towards the nationalist right in his attempts to hold on to power. we are in the midst of european parliamentary election we've been talking on this programme about the shift to the writer how should we see what had happened today in slovakia in the context of what is going on across europe? i slovakia in the context of what is going on across europe?- slovakia in the context of what is going on across europe? i think this will really worry _ going on across europe? i think this will really worry politicians - going on across europe? i think this will really worry politicians in - will really worry politicians in brussels, _ will really worry politicians in brussels, in particular the centre—right bloc which is actually poised _ centre—right bloc which is actually poised to— centre—right bloc which is actually poised to do extremely well at the selections, but the only real challenges they have are on the far i’ili'it challenges they have are on the far right are _ challenges they have are on the far right are some of these political extremes. as we were saying before, robert _ extremes. as we were saying before, robert fico's party is a bit of an

anomaly— robert fico's party is a bit of an anomaly in— robert fico's party is a bit of an anomaly in the sense it has roots in the leopard — anomaly in the sense it has roots in the leopard has aligned itself with the leopard has aligned itself with the far— the leopard has aligned itself with the far right because of those populist — the far right because of those populist sympathies in both parties. but you _ populist sympathies in both parties. but you will be seeing many european politicians _ but you will be seeing many european politicians and indeed politicians at the _ politicians and indeed politicians at the helm of the key bodies like ursula _ at the helm of the key bodies like ursula von— at the helm of the key bodies like ursula von der leyen extremely concerned — ursula von der leyen extremely concerned that now we have the spectre — concerned that now we have the spectre of — concerned that now we have the spectre of political violence within the eu _ spectre of political violence within the eu borders. that will worry them ahead _ the eu borders. that will worry them ahead of— the eu borders. that will worry them ahead of the elections. it is the eu borders. that will worry them ahead of the elections.— ahead of the elections. it is worth standin: ahead of the elections. it is worth standing back _ ahead of the elections. it is worth standing back and _ ahead of the elections. it is worth standing back and thinking - ahead of the elections. it is worth standing back and thinking about | ahead of the elections. it is worth i standing back and thinking about the enormous tectonic events that are shaping our world at the moment. had we not been reporting on robert fico tonight we will probably would have lead with their worsening situation in ukraine and the decision to cancel presidential and's foreign trade. that new offensive on kharkiv is ringing alarm bells and it is part of the same story because it is pulling at the threads in europe,

the alliance, just a few weeks ago the alliance, just a few weeks ago the slovakian prime minister within turkey meeting said guide lover of his russian counterpart. in the last hour we have interviewed the president of georgia salome zourabichvili and this is what he said about it with everything that is going on. the polarisation is getting everywhere, very tense and the social networks where people are just giving way to their inner hate speech and everything and that is very dangerous so yes we are in that time to politics around the world and it is something that should be controlled as much as possible. do ou controlled as much as possible. do you see connections, i mean we see it in other places, we have seen it in poland, hungary, other eastern

and central european countries, that the war in ukraine is very much part of the political debate?— of the political debate? there are wild within wild. _ of the political debate? there are wild within wild. there _ of the political debate? there are wild within wild. there is - of the political debate? there are wild within wild. there is the - of the political debate? there are wild within wild. there is the real| wild within wild. there is the real world, literally fighting in the trenches in ukraine which has had far—reaching implications, but it has provoked these political bars which we have seen today can turn violent and this is why there is been this take intake of breath across europe. night after night we would have been speaking on this programme about the fears of violence in the united states because of their political polarisation there and because of people's unwillingness to hear the other side, people's unwillingness to hear the otherside, people people's unwillingness to hear the other side, people know... people's unwillingness to hear the otherside, people know... some people's unwillingness to hear the other side, people know... some are today here in london focusing on the dangers posed by disinformation, social media, issues of social media threading through this political debate, this crisis now unfolding in slovakia. so these... these are

really issues, threat of our time, great dangers in them and yes, the full—scale russian invasion of ukraine may have been the sounded the first now and it's off content of all kind, including what we have seen today. you can not draw a direct line but certainly the politics we have been discussing and our coverage of his return to power with very much about his view on ukraine, nota with very much about his view on ukraine, not a single bullet will go the. it is interesting president zelensky was talking about and into political violence, everyone is this attack. �* , ., political violence, everyone is this attack. �* , political violence, everyone is this attack. , ,., attack. i'm sorry to put you short. we will talk _ attack. i'm sorry to put you short. we will talk plenty _ attack. i'm sorry to put you short. we will talk plenty more. - attack. i'm sorry to put you short. we will talk plenty more. we - attack. i'm sorry to put you short. we will talk plenty more. we will| we will talk plenty more. we will talk about ukraine the other side of the break. we will be right back. low pressure is in charge of our weather right now and that means it

is never going to be completely settled and completely dry but there's been some sunshine. but there has been some sunshine. northern scotland was a good example of that today, lifting temperatures well up into the 20s. compare that with the scene in norfolk with a lot of cloud, some bits and pieces of rain thanks to this weatherfront, a very slow—moving feature. and actually, we're going to see a pulse of heavier rain drifting back along that weather front as we head into tomorrow. tonight, a lot of dry weather around, but with some areas of mist and murk and low clouds still plaguing some of these eastern coasts, that rain getting going across parts of east anglia into lincolnshire and east yorkshire by the end of the night. so, overnight lows, 9—12 degrees — just a touch cooler than some recent nights. and then into tomorrow, these outbreaks of rain drift westwards across the north midlands, parts of northern england towards merseyside, maybe into north wales. to the north of that as well, a decent amount of sunshine. scotland once again seeing some warm sunshine, particularly in the highlands where temperatures could climb to 23 degrees. but there is the potential for some quite sharp showers

and thunderstorms to break out across western scotland later in the day. same sort of thing for northern ireland, perhaps the far north and northwest of england. then we're into our rain band and to the south of that, some spells of sunshine. highs of18, 19, maybe 20 degrees, but we will see some fairly heavy showers. now, through thursday night, this lump of wet weather slides away westwards. we'll see some areas of clouds and mist and murk, but through friday, i think most places should get to see at least some spells of sunshine with a scattering of showers breaking out. some of those showers could be on the heavy side, but temperatures again in the sunniest spots up to around 23 degrees. this time, the warmest weather likely to be across the west and the south west of scotland, a little bit cooler in the far north of scotland into the weekend, low pressure loosens its grip. high pressure tries to build a fairly weak affair at this stage. but it does mean, particularly across the northern half of the uk, a lot of dry weather, some spells of sunshine, although the north and the west of scotland will be just

a little bit cooler than it has been over recent days. some north sea coasts could continue to struggle temperature wise. further south, a greater chance of showers, some of those on the heavy side, but also some spells of warm sunshine.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. slovakia's prime minister robert fico is in a life—threatening condition after being shot in the street — the government says

it was an assassination attempt. a 71—year—old suspect has been arrested. plenty more on that story shortly, let's pause now and get the sport news. hello from the bbc sport centre. there are two games under way in the battle for european qualification in the premier league. as it stands manchester united in 8th place would not qualify for europe next season, it's goalless in their game at home to newcastle who have eyes on the europa league next season. as do cheslea who started the day in 7th which is a europa conference league spot. mauricio pochetino's side are looking to make it four wins on the bounce and they lead 1—0 at brighton thanks to cole palmer's 22nd league goal of the season. celtic are on the verge of being crowned scottish premiership champions for the 54th time. all they have to do is avoid defeat at kilmarnock and they lead by 3 goals to nil.

brendan rodger�*s side need just a point, there to close