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Argentina Vice-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner narrowly avoided an assassination attempt after the attacker’s handgun did not fire. The Vice-President greeted her supporters outside her home when a man approached her and pointed a gun at her.
Viral footage of the incident shows the accused approaching Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and aiming the gun inches away from her head. The accused attempted to shoot the vice president but the gun did not fire. As per the police report, the weapon used was found “a few meters from the place”.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Assasination Attempt
President Alberto Fernandez addressed the nation and said the gun was loaded with five bullets but failed to fire when triggered. He said, “Cristina remains alive because for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun which contained five bullets did not fire.”
He condemned the attacker and described the assassination attempt as one of the most serious incidents since the country returned to democracy in 1982.
According to the police report, the alleged assailant was identified as Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel. He is a 35-year-old Brazilian national. Montiel’s motives and details about the incident are unclear at the moment and the police are investigating the assassination attempt. Reportedly, the assailant was arrested at the scene.
Kirchner served as the President of Argentina between 2007 and 2015 and is currently charged with a corruption case. She is accused of defrauding the state and fraudulently awarding public works contracts while she was the president.
Kirchner is one of the 13 people charged in the corruption case. She is charged with "illicit association aggravated by her quality as leader" and "aggravated fraudulent administration".
Earlier this week, the Argentinian security minister said that Kirchner’s security would be extended to her home after clashes broke out in front of her home. The clashes broke out after a prosecutor requested a sentence of 12 years in prison for the corruption case. The prosecutor also asked the federal court to ban Kirchner from holding public office for the rest of her life.
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