A man was arrested Thursday in the Argentine city of Buenos Aires after he tried to shoot the vice president of the South American country, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, near her home.
The images broadcast by TN and C5N news channels show the moment a person holds a gun in front of the face of the former head of state (2007-2015).
The loaded Bersa 9-millimeter gun failed to fire at point-blank range.
Argentine Security Minister Aníbal Fernández told the local press that “a person shows a gun and is detained by security forces, he is taken away, and the gun is found.”
“Now the situation has to be analyzed by our people from the scientific police to evaluate the fingerprints and the ability and disposition of this person,” the official said, according to state news agency Télam.
According to the local newspaper “Página/12”, the arrested is a 35-year-old Brazilian citizen, identified as Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel, who was made available to justice for the crime.
“While the vice president was greeting the activists who had been coming to her house for more than ten days, a man eluded the guards and shot her in the left temple,” the newspaper added.
Supporters of the political leader are holding a vigil near her home after federal prosecutor Diego Luciani asked the Federal Court 2 on Aug. 22 to sentence Fernández de Kirchner to 12 years in prison and life in prison for alleged irregularities in the awarding of public contracts during her tenure as president.
The former Argentine president denied the charges and said it was a case against Peronism (Justice Party) and popular governments.
On Aug. 23, she declared that “nothing, absolutely nothing of what they said has been proven,” while the court ordered a recess until Sept. 5, when defense lawyers’ pleas begin.
The judicial incident has led to political tensions in the country. On Saturday, Aug. 27, clashes broke out between protesters and police in the capital, leaving at least 20 police officers injured and protesters arrested near the vice president’s home.