Bratislava, May 16 (IANS/DPA) A man described as a "lone wolf" has been charged with the attempted murder of Slovakian Prime Minister Rober Fico, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said.

Estok said the 71-year-old suspect was motivated by political grievances to try and assassinate Fico.

He described the man as a "lone wolf" who is "not a member of a radicalised political group, either right-wing or left-wing".

Prime Minister Fico was shot four times on Wednesday and remains in hospital in a serious condition.

The attack occurred as Fico, a left-wing nationalist, went outside to shake hands after a Cabinet meeting held at the House of Culture in Handlová. One of the shots hit him in the abdomen. The local television station RTV Prievidza published a video of the incident showing a man pushing against the fence and shooting at the prime minister from close range.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned the attack on Slovakia's PM Robert Fico, calling it a "cowardly and dastardly act".