Minister: Slovak PM assassination attempt suspect may not be "lone wolf"

Officials in Slovakia are investigating whether the attacker who shot the prime minister was not a "lone wolf".

The interior minister Matus Sutaj Estok issued the update on May 19, after the suspect was previously believed to be a "lone wolf", according to Sky News.

He said an investigation team had been set up which would look into whether the suspect acted as part of a group of people that had been encouraging each other to carry out an assassination.

One factor suggesting the involvement of other persons was the suspect's internet communications were deleted two hours after the assassination attempt, but not by the suspect and most likely not by his wife, Estok said.

Robert Fico's condition is no longer life-threatening but is still very serious, his team said on Sunday.

Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak issued the update four days after the assassination attempt on the populist leader.

Speaking to reporters outside the Banska Bystrica hospital, where Mr Fico is being treated, he said: "The worst that we feared had passed, at least for the time being.

"We are all a little calmer. When we were saying that we want to get closer to a positive prognosis, then I believe that we are a step closer to that."

The prime minister, 59, was shot multiple times on Wednesday in an attack that raised fresh concern over the polarisation of politics in the central European country of 5.4 million people.

The Slovak Specialised Criminal Court ruled on Saturday that the suspect, identified by prosecutors as Juraj C, should remain behind bars until the trial charged with attempted murder.

Prosecutors said they feared he could flee or commit other crimes if freed, a court spokesperson said.

The suspect can appeal the order, but so far no statement has been published by him or a lawyer on his behalf.

Little information about the would-be assassin has been made public after prosecutors told police not to identify him or release details about the case.

Unconfirmed media reports said he is a 71-year-old former security guard and an amateur poet.