ASSASSIN PULLS THE TRIGGER & GUN JAMS
Kill bid on Argentina leader
ARGENTINA’S vice-president has narrowly survived an assassination attempt after a gunman’s weapon jammed inches from her face.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 69, was targeted by the neo-Nazi sympathiser while surrounded by her supporters outside her home.
As Fernando Montiel, 35, continued to take aim, he was tackled by security and arrested after his .32-calibre Bersa, loaded with five bullets, failed to fire.
In dramatic footage, the gun can be seen being raised to Kirchner’s face at point-blank range in Buenos Aires while the click of the trigger is heard.
She was unharmed in the attack in Recoleta at 9pm on Thursday.
President Alberto Fernandez said it was the “most serious” incident since the nation returned to democracy in 1983. Kirchner, a left-wing populist, was Argentina’s president from 2007 to 2015 and first lady from 2003 to 2007.
She was targeted while returning from court on corruption charges.
Her lawyer called for justice, adding: “Hate and violence end badly.” Mauricio Macri, a right-wing former president, added: “This grave incident demands immediate and profound clarification by the justice system and security forces.”
As Brazilian Montiel remained in custody, worrying details of his past emerged. His Nazi Black Sun tattoo was also used by killers behind massacres in Buffalo, New York, in May and New Zealand in 2019. Montiel, son of an Argentinian mum who died five years ago and a Chilean dad said to have been kicked out of Brazil, also had an Iron Cross tattoo. The Sao Paolo-born driver’s links to far-right groups were probed yesterday amid reports he followed extremists on his now-deleted social media. Montiel was arrested last year after being found in possession of a knife. Police yesterday found 100 9mm bullets during an apartment search. It was thought Montiel was still living in Villa del Parque, Buenos Aires, but it emerged the ammunition was found at his home in San Martin.
This grave incident demands clarification by the justice system and security forces FORMER PRESIDENT MAURICIO MACRI,