BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A person tried to kill Argentina’s politically highly effective Vice President Cristina Fernández exterior her house, however the handgun misfired, the nation’s president stated.

The person was shortly overpowered by her safety officers within the incident Thursday night time, officers stated.

President Alberto Fernández, who is just not associated to the vice chairman, a former president herself, stated the pistol didn’t discharge when the person tried to fireside it.

“A person pointed a firearm at her head and pulled the set off,” the president stated in a nationwide broadcast following the incident. He stated the firearm was loaded with 5 bullets however “didn’t fireplace regardless that the set off was pulled.”

The vice chairman didn’t seem to have suffered any damage, and the person was overpowered inside seconds as he stood amongst a crowd of her supporters.

Gina De Bai, a witness who was close to the vice chairman throughout the incident, advised The Related Press she heard “the sound of the set off being pulled.” She stated she didn’t notice it was a handgun till the person was rushed by safety personnel.

President Fernández referred to as it “probably the most severe incident since we recovered democracy” in 1983 after a navy dictatorship and urged political leaders, and society at giant, to repudiate the tried taking pictures.

The assault got here because the vice chairman is going through a trial for alleged acts of corruption throughout her 2007-2015 presidency — prices that she vehemently denies and which have led her supporters to encompass her house within the upscale Recoleta neighborhood of Argentina’s capital.

Video broadcast on native tv channels confirmed Fernández exiting her car surrounded by supporters when a person is seen extending his hand with what seems to be like a pistol. The vice chairman geese as folks across the obvious gunman seem shocked at what is going on.

Unverified video posted on social media reveals the pistol virtually touched Fernández’s face.

The alleged gunman was recognized as Fernando André Sabag Montiel, a Brazilian citizen, stated an official on the Safety Ministry, who spoke on situation of anonymity. He doesn’t have a legal file, the official stated. ading that the weapon was a .32-caliber Bersa.

The president declared Friday a vacation “so the Argentine folks can, in peace and concord, categorical itself in protection of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice chairman.”

Supporters of the vice chairman have been gathering within the streets surrounding her house since final week, when a prosecutor referred to as for a 12-year sentence for Fernández in addition to a life-long prohibition in holding public workplace within the corruption case.

Shortly after the incident, authorities officers had been fast to decry what they referred to as an assassination try.

“When hate and violence are imposed over the talk of concepts, societies are destroyed and generate conditions just like the one seen immediately: an assassination try,” Economic system Minister Sergio Massa stated.

Cupboard ministers issued a information launch saying they “energetically condemn the tried murder” of the vice chairman. “What occurred tonight is of utmost gravity and threatens democracy, establishments and the rule of regulation.”

Former President Mauricio Macri, a conservative who succeeded the left-of-center Fernández within the presidency, additionally condemned the assault. “This very severe occasion calls for a direct and profound clarification by the judiciary and safety forces,” Macri wrote on Twitter.

Patricia Bullrich, president of the opposition Republican Proposal celebration, criticized President Fernández’s response to the assault, accusing him of “enjoying with fireplace.” She stated that “as a substitute of severely investigating a severe incident, he accuses the opposition and the press, decreeing a nationwide vacation to mobilize activists.”

Tensions have been operating excessive within the Recoleta neighborhood because the weekend, when the vice chairman’s supporters clashed with police within the streets surrounding her house amid an effort by regulation enforcement officers to clear the realm. Following the clashes, what had been a powerful police presence across the vice chairman’s house was decreased.

When Fernández leaves her house day-after-day at round midday, she greets supporters and indicators autographs earlier than getting in her car to go to the Senate. She repeats the identical routine each night.

Following the incident, allies of the vice chairman shortly pointed the finger on the opposition for what they stated is hateful speech that promotes violence. In latest days, a number of key officers have stated opposition leaders had been on the lookout for a fatality.

“This can be a historic occasion in Argentina that should be a before-and-after,” Buenos Aires Gov. Axel Kicillof stated.

Regional leaders additionally condemned the assault.

“We ship our solidarity to the vice chairman on this try in opposition to her life,” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated on Twitter.

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, who’s a candidate in that nation’s presidential election subsequent month, additionally expressed solidarity with Fernández, calling her a “sufferer of a fascist legal who doesn’t know easy methods to respect variations and variety.”

___

Related Press author Daniel Politi in Santiago, Chile, contributed to this report.