The recent assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico may involve more than just a lone assailant, according to Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok of the Hlas party. New investigative revelations suggest that the 71-year-old suspect, who is now in custody, had his Facebook and communication history deleted two hours after the incident, raising concerns about a broader conspiracy.
However, the suspect’s social media and communication history “was not deleted by him and apparently not by his wife either,” said Eštok during a Sunday press conference. “Based on this operational information, we are therefore also working with the possibility that a group of people is behind the assault,” Šutaj Eštok added.
Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák of the Smer-SD party echoed this sentiment, hinting that the suspect may have communicated with others regarding the assassination attempt, making it plausible “that he did not act alone.”
Pavol Gašpar, Deputy Director of the Slovak Information Service (SIS), flagged the serious state of national security, exacerbated by heightened foreign media attention surrounding the attempt on Fico’s life. Gašpar also suggested that foreign intelligence agencies may be active in the country, hinting at their involvement in the assassination attempt. “It cannot be ruled out that we are a breeding ground for the activities of intelligence services from abroad,” he said.
Robert Fico was shot several times by his would-be assassin on May 15. As of Sunday night, Fico remained in hospital in serious condition.
