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3w ago

Trial Opens for Slovak Gunman Charged With Terror Attack on PM Fico

Hearings will determine whether Cintula faces life imprisonment for his politically motivated terror attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference, as he marks the anniversary of his attempted assassination, at the site of the attack, in Handlova, central Slovakia May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo
FILE - Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Feb. 21, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Gunman Juraj Cintula told the Novy cas tabloid that he did not want to kill Fico
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Overview

  • Juraj Cintula appeared in the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica on July 8 for the first hearings of his terror trial.
  • Prosecutors upgraded the original attempted murder charge to terrorism, alleging Cintula sought to paralyze the Slovak government.
  • He is accused of firing five shots from close range in Handlová on May 15, 2024, wounding Fico four times including in the abdomen.
  • Cintula has told investigators he intended to hurt but not kill Fico over disputes on Ukraine aid, media regulations and cultural reforms.
  • The court will read charges and question the 72-year-old defendant this week before scheduling additional sessions toward a verdict.