Brussels: Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Thursday filed a police complaint against a radio presenter who appeared to call for his shooting after the attack on Slovak leader Robert Fico.
Flemish station Radio Waregem1 said the broadcaster had been suspended and apologised for making a misplaced joke after urging listeners to "take out" De Croo following the news of Fico's shooting.
"Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has filed a complaint against the presenter who called for the 'prime minister to be taken out'," a spokesman for the prime minister wrote on X, the former Twitter.
"The journalist called on listeners to 'go ahead despite the security around that guy' and referred to the attack on Prime Minister Fico in Slovakia."
In a statement the radio station said the presenter had been immediately suspended after making the "misplaced statement".
"The presenter says he meant this in a playful manner, but it did not come across that way," it said.
"He apologises to the listeners and Waregem1 believes that he completely misjudged the timing and context and therefore should not have made this statement."
Liberal leader De Croo, 48, is campaigning ahead of Belgian and EU elections being held next month.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remained in a serious condition in hospital Thursday, a day after he was shot by an assailant.
Police have charged a suspected "lone wolf" attacker, reported to be a 71-year-old writer, with attempted murder.
