The would-be assassin who allegedly pulled a gun on Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had 100 bullets stashed in his house when police raided it within the wake of the shock assault.
Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel, a 35-year-old Brazilian, was taken into custody after he was caught on digital camera pointing the loaded gun in Fernandez de Kirchner’s face outdoors her Buenos Aires house Thursday evening.
The suspect pulled the set off of the Argentine-made 32-caliber Bersa 380 pistol nevertheless it did not discharge, based on officers.
“A man pointed a gun at her head and fired. Cristina’s alive for a technical reason as yet unclear. The gun, which had five bullets in it, did not go off even though the trigger was pulled,” President Alberto Fernandez stated.
When cops later raided Montiel’s residence, they uncovered his enormous stash of bullets, police sources advised native newspaper La Nacion.
Montiel, who had beforehand been cited for possession of a knife final 12 months, had been renting rooms all through Buenos Aires and dealing as a driver within the lead as much as the assault, the sources added.
Authorities are nonetheless making an attempt to find out a motive for the failed assassination try on Fernandez de Kirchner — who has lengthy been a divisive determine in Argentina and is presently going through potential corruption expenses.
Fernandez de Kirchner, who has but to talk publicly concerning the ordeal, was pictured rising from her house and waving to supporters on Friday after a go to from President Fernandez.
The vp had been surrounded by safety personnel and was interacting carefully with the a whole lot of supporters gathered close to her house when the assassination try unfolded at about 9 p.m. Thursday.
Footage confirmed the attacker pushing by means of the gang and getting inside ft of Fernandez de Kirchner earlier than waving the gun in her face. The veep might be seen crouching down and masking her face together with her palms because the suspect was rapidly bundled away.
The gun was discovered a number of meters away, police stated.
Politicians on all sides in Argentina had been fast to sentence the assault, which unfolded as political tensions proceed to rise within the nation amid an ongoing financial disaster pushed by debt and inflation.
“This is the most serious event we have gone through since Argentina returned to democracy,” President Fernandez stated in a televised deal with, referring to the 1983 finish of navy rule.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken additionally issued a press release Friday condemning the assault, saying, “We stand with the Argentine government and people in rejecting violence and hate.”
Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Pichetto, a distinguished lawmaker, rapidly known as for an investigation into how the suspect was even in a position to method the vp as she returned to her house.
“There needs to be an investigation into how this subject got so close. What happened to her security?” Pichetto advised the TN native tv outlet. “You have to evaluate why she was so alone at that moment, that the person could get almost face to face.”
Crowds have been gathering outdoors Fernandez de Kirchner’s house each day amid the continuing corruption probe she is going through over an alleged scheme to divert public funds whereas she was president between 2007 and 2015.
A prosecutor final month known as for Fernandez de Kirchnera — who has denied any wrongdoing — to be given a 12-year jail sentence.
With Post wires
