Alleged gunman Juraj Cintula, 71, is facing life in prison if convicted of the ‘lone wolf’, ‘politically motivated’ attack that rocked Europe.

Populist allies of Robert Fico have tried to seize on the shooting with calls to close the Liberal Party and crack down on the free media with some characterising the would-be assassin as a liberal.

But enquiries reveal the poet and retired security guard has a muddled political background having rallied against communism, migrants, and violence – with links to a pro-Russian militia.

Friends in Cintula’s hometown of Levice, western Slovakia, described him as ‘rebellious when he was young, but not aggressive’.

The grey-haired, bearded grandfather wrote poems while chairman of the Duha Literary Club in his hometown and published a racist book on ‘eyeless gypsies’ in 2015.

Enquiries reveal alleged gunman Juraj Cintula has a muddled political background having rallied against communism, migrants, and violence. Cintula is pictured here with members of the Slovak Conscripts, a pro-Russian Slovak militia

Reporter Sam Greenhill outside the apartment block where alleged gunman Juraj Cintula lives in Levice, western Slovakia

Populist allies of Robert Fico have tried to seize on the shooting by characterising the would-be assassin as a liberal – but his political views seem to be across the spectrum,

Friends in Cintula’s hometown of Levice, western Slovakia, described him as ‘rebellious when he was young, but not aggressive’

Juraj Cintula, 71, is facing life in prison if convicted of the ‘lone wolf’, ‘politically motivated’ attack that rocked Europe

It would seem an attack on him by a drunk man at the supermarket he guarded the following year had a profound effect.

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Cintula appeared in local press at the time with a bruised face describing how his assailant ‘was vulgar’ with ‘no respect for grey-haired people’, adding: ‘He thought, ‘What could an old man do to me?’ 

‘That year he left the literary club and formed a political party called ‘Movement Against Violence’ where he blamed ‘plutocracy’ for driving nations to war.

In a manifesto video, he said: ‘Migrants are pouring into Europe, there is hatred and extremism everywhere.’ 

That same year he was also photographed with members of the Slovak Conscripts (SB), a pro-Russian Slovak militia.

In an accompanying post on the group’s Facebook page he was quoted as saying ‘hundreds of thousands of migrants’ are coming to Europe and SB want to protect Slovakia as ‘patriots’.

The group is said to have received training from Russian Spetsnaz instructors and members allegedly fought for Russia in Ukraine.

The news has shocked friends and neighbours in his hometown where he lives with wife, Elena, a teacher, who describes them as being in an ‘open relationship’ on social media

A letterbox shows the name Cintula at the apartment block where the alleged gunman lives

One acquaintance of Cintula said they once had an exchange on politics. ‘I was for the Soviet Union, he was against… But nothing that would result in conflict’. Pictured: Cintula’s apartment

But, in a further contradiction, footage emerged on Thursday showing Cintula at a protest against Mr Fico three weeks ago – where he is heard shouting: ‘Long live Ukraine!’

The Slovakian PM has changed his country’s direction from backing Kyiv to calling to a halt on arms sales and cosying up to Vladimir Putin. 

It apparently prompted Cintula to call him and his fellow politicians ‘traitors’ following a cabinet meeting in Dolna Krupa, near Bratislava.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was blasted several times at near-point-blank range on Wednesday – leaving him in a critical condition

Shortly after his arrest, a video leaked showing him claim he carried out the shooting because he was against Mr Fico’s plans to shut down the media.

Referring to Mr Fico’s moves to bring state media further under government control, the grandfather is seen saying: ‘I don’t agree with the Government’s policy. They are liquidating the media.’

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His son, Martin, told local press that his father ‘didn’t vote’ for Mr Fico, adding: ‘I have no idea what father intended, what he planned, why it happened.’

According to local TV he told the police that he was ‘proud’ of the attack, which he had planned a few days earlier. He claimed he had only wanted to hurt the PM, not kill him.

He is understood to have had a gun licence for over 30 years due to his work supermarket security guard and allegedly used a 9mm Czech pistol in the attack.

The news has shocked friends and neighbours in his hometown where he lives with wife, Elena, a teacher, who describes them as being in an ‘open relationship’ on social media.

Locals said the member of the Association of Slovak Writers was ‘pleasant’, ‘polite’, and ‘calm’. 

One said they once had an exchange on politics. ‘I was for the Soviet Union, he was against… But nothing that would result in conflict.’