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The suspect in the attempted assassination of Slovakia's prime minister now faces terror charges

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The suspect in the attempted assassination of Slovakia's prime minister now faces terror charges
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News

The suspect in the attempted assassination of Slovakia's prime minister now faces terror charges

2024-07-04 19:17 Last Updated At:19:20

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The suspect in the attempted assassination in May of Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, is now facing terror charges as part of an investigation by authorities, the country’s prosecutor-general said Thursday.

The suspect, identified only as J.C., was originally charged with attempted murder. Prosecutor-General Maroš Žilinka said in a statement that the change in the charges is based on evidence the investigators obtained, but didn’t immediately give further details.

The government officials initially said that they believed it was a politically motivated attack committed by a “lone wolf,” but announced later that a “third party” might have been involved in “acting for the benefit of the perpetrator.”

Fico has currently been recovering at home from multiple wounds he suffered in the assassination attempt on May 15 when he was shot in the abdomen as he greeted supporters in the town of Handlova,

The assailant was immediately arrested and a court ordered him to remain behind bars.

Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond. He returned to power for the fourth time last year after his leftist party Smer, or Direction, won the parliamentary election last September, after campaigning on a pro-Russia and anti-American message.

His critics worry that Slovakia could abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico’s policies.

FILE - Bodyguards take Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in a car from the scene after he was shot and injured following the cabinet's away-from-home session in the town of Handlova, Slovakia, on May 15, 2024. Slovakia’s authorities started to investigate a suspect in an attempted assassination on populist Prime Minister Robert Fico as a terror attack, the country’s prosecutor general said on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Radovan Stoklasa/TASR via AP)

FILE - Bodyguards take Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in a car from the scene after he was shot and injured following the cabinet's away-from-home session in the town of Handlova, Slovakia, on May 15, 2024. Slovakia’s authorities started to investigate a suspect in an attempted assassination on populist Prime Minister Robert Fico as a terror attack, the country’s prosecutor general said on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Radovan Stoklasa/TASR via AP)

PARIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had his Stephen Curry moment in Paris.

Same arena, no less. Different stakes, different quarter, but same flurry: four 3-point tries, all of them good, in a 2-1/2 minute stretch to end a period in a display that thoroughly disappointed the French fans.

No, Haliburton did not think about dropping a “ nuit, nuit " — Curry's signature gesture reserved for such moments. But his 16-point run to end the third was the spark in what became Indiana's 136-98 victory over Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio on Saturday night.

“Felt like a rare air, for sure,” said Haliburton, who had 18 of his 28 points in that third quarter. “It was a good feeling.”

Curry's flurry of four 3-pointers came in the fourth quarter of the gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics back in August, ensuring that Wembanyama and France would be thwarted in their bid to deny USA Basketball a fifth consecutive gold medal.

Haliburton had a courtside seat that day, a member of the U.S. team but someone who wasn't in the Olympic playing rotation. That said, when Curry was taking over in the final minutes that night, it was Haliburton who was one of the first to do the Golden State star's signature “night, night” move — two hands together on the side of the face, mimicking going to sleep.

“That was probably the greatest run I’ve ever seen in the game of basketball," Haliburton said of Curry's gold-medal finish. "To be right there to see that and experience that, there was nothing like it. So, I don’t know if anything anybody ever does will match that just because of the stakes.”

No, his shots Saturday were not for a gold medal. But some of Haliburton's 3s to end the third quarter were of the same ilk as Curry that night, the high-arcing, how-did-he-do-that variety of shots.

“They're going to talk about Victor after these two games,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “But they're going to remember that run here in Paris."

Haliburton had a great line when the the Olympics were over, comparing his gold medal to someone who got an “A” on the group project without actually participating.

He had a different feeling Saturday night.

“I participated,” Haliburton said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, center, is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin, left, and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, center, is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin, left, and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) go for a loose ball during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) go for a loose ball during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

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