Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico is seriously injured and currently in life-threatening condition after he was shot multiple times while greeting fans outside the venue of a government meeting on Wednesday.

“Robert Fico was assassinated today. He has been shot multiple times and is currently in life-threatening condition,” the Facebook posted by the politician on Wednesday afternoon.

The post, which was posted minutes after the incident, added, “At this moment, he is transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica because it would take too long to get to Bratislava due to the necessity of an acute procedure.”

According to the New York Times, the attack which the government called an ‘assassination attempt’, occurred in the Slovak town of Handlova after the populist leader had conducted a government meeting.

The 59-year-old had also concluded a press conference for almost an hour when he was shot multiple times while he was greeting fans outside the venue. 

In images published by Reuters, Mr Fico’s security detail is seen running around in a black sedan.

Police are yet to comment on the incident while the extent of Mr Fico’s injuries remain unknown but the statement posted on the Prime Minister’s Facebook page said, “the next few hours will decide.”

Regarding the incident, Slovakia president Zuzana Caputova, whose position is largely ceremonial, described the incident as a “brutal and reckless attack.”

“I am shocked,” she wrote in a message on Facebook. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment to recover from the attack,” Ms Caputova added.