Man arrested for attempted shooting of Argentine VP Kirchner

Man arrested for attempted shooting of Argentine VP Kirchner

This screen grab obtained from a handout video released by TV Publica shows a man pointing a gun at Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner as she arrives at her residence in Buenos Aires on September 1, 2022
This screen grab obtained from a handout video released by TV Publica shows a man pointing a gun at Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner as she arrives at her residence in Buenos Aires on September 1, 2022. Photo: Handout / TV PUBLICA/AFP
Source: AFP

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block and enjoy!

A man attempted to shoot Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner near her home in Buenos Aires on Thursday, the country's president said.

Several television channels broadcast footage showing the man pointing a small handgun at the vice president at close range as she was getting out of a car and she ducked as the weapon was aimed.

But the gun failed to fire, even though it was loaded, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said.

"Cristina remains alive because, for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun, which contained five bullets, did not fire," Fernandez said in an address to the nation.

In a video of the incident, a clicking sound can be heard as the gun is aimed toward Kirchner.

Security minister Anibal Fernandez said the man was arrested and that police would open an investigation.

Read also

Independent journalism under attack in Central America

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

"Now, the situation has to be analyzed by our scientific people to evaluate the fingerprints and the capacity and propensity this person had," he said.

Local media reported that the suspect, who approached Kirchner in a crowd gathering around the politician to ask for her autograph, is a Brazilian national.

The opposition party Together for Change condemned the attempted attack.

"My absolute repudiation of the attack suffered by Cristina Kirchner, who fortunately was not injured. This very serious act requires an immediate and deep investigation by prosecutors and security forces," Mauricio Macri, who was president from 2015 to 2019, tweeted.

'Solidarity'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a strong Kirchner ally who has called the accusations against her a "farse," also tweeted his support Thursday night.

"We send our solidarity to Vice President Cristina Kirchner in the face of the attack against her life," he wrote.

Read also

Madagascar police confirm killing 19 civilians after albino kidnap

"We strenuously reject this act that sought to destabilize the peace of the brotherly Argentine people. The great homeland is with you, comrade!"

Hundreds of activists have gathered in recent days in front of the home of Kirchner, who is accused of fraudulently awarding public works contracts in her stronghold in Patagonia.

Police stand guard outside the residence of Vice President Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires on September 1, 2022
Police stand guard outside the residence of Vice President Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires on September 1, 2022. Photo: Luis ROBAYO / AFP
Source: AFP

Prosecutors have asked that the ex-president, who ruled from 2007 to 2015, face 12 years in jail and a lifetime ban from politics.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing that they have said was proven," Kirchner, a lawyer by trade who succeeded her late husband, Nestor Kirchner, as president, said last week.

Kirchner, 69, is president of the country's Senate and enjoys parliamentary immunity.

The verdict in her case is expected at the end of the year.

Even if convicted she would not go to prison unless her sentence was ratified by the country's Supreme Court, or if she loses her Senate seat at the next elections at the end of 2023.

New feature: check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.