Gun Jams During Attempt To Kill Argentina Vice-president
Argentina’s vice-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner narrowly avoided assassination on Thursday night in Buenos Aires after a gunman’s weapon jammed as he aimed at her at close range.
The former president was returning home from court and was surrounded by a mob of supporters when she found herself face-to-face with the loaded weapon.
Video circulating on social media shows the gunman emerging from the crowd as Kirchner approaches and comes within inches of her with a gun pointed into her face.
She initially appears confused by what is going on, ducking down to retrieve an object dropped on the floor.
The gunman, who local media identified as a 35-year-old Brazilian man, has been arrested.
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Police are attempting to establish a motive for the attack on de Kirchner, who was Argentina’s president from 2007 to 2015, and its first lady for four years before that.
She is facing allegations of corruption. She denies the charges.
Her supporters have been gathering outside her home for the last few nights in a show of support as she fights charges of corruption.
Kirchner is accused of defrauding the state and being involved in a scheme to divert public funds while she was president.
Addressing the nation late on Thursday night, President Alberto Fernández revealed the gun was loaded with five bullets but failed to fire when triggered. He said:
Cristina remains alive because, for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun, which contained five bullets, did not fire.
More: BBC News
