Brazilian arrested over attempt to shoot Argentinas Vice President

A Brazilian man has been apprehended for attempting to shoot Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner near her residence in Buenos Aires, the Argentina capital on Thursday.

AFP reports that the footage of the incident showed the man pointing a handgun in Kirchner’s face from close range.

Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez while addressing the country said his vice is alive.

He added that the incident was the most serious one the country encountered in nearly four decades of its independence. 

“Cristina remains alive because, for a reason that has not yet been technically confirmed, the gun which contained five bullets did not fire despite the trigger having been pulled. This is the most serious event that has happened since we restored democracy,” Fernandez said. 

A witness told AFP, “I saw this arm come up over my shoulder behind me with a gun, and with people around me, he was subdued.”

Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said a suspect had been arrested on Thursday night but investigators still needed to examine the crime scene and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Local media reported that the suspect was a 35-year-old Brazilian citizen.

Argentine President, then, declared Friday a public holiday to allow people to “express themselves in defence of the life of democracy and in solidarity with our vice president.”