Argentine authorities detained Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel after an attempted assassination of vice president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The individual is a 35-year-old Brazilian national with a prior police record, including an incident in March 2021 involving a police officer. At the center of the case is a weapon described as a 35-centimeter firearm, which has become a critical detail in the unfolding investigation.
Initial reports indicate that Sabag was observed inside a vehicle without a license plate, an element that drew the attention of a Buenos Aires police officer. When the officer requested the vehicle’s documentation, Sabag allegedly produced a 35-centimeter blade, claiming it was carried for self-defense. This prodigious knife appeared to play a role in the sequence of events surrounding the incident, though authorities have not confirmed whether it was used in any violent act beyond this display.
Local media have also discussed the role of non-traditional urban transport services in the area. They note that taxis and private remises operate as part of a broader non-regular urban and suburban mobility network, typically providing services to passengers outside of standard chauffeur-driven car rental arrangements and school transport. Some reports hint at connections to a well-known migration app, suggesting Sabag’s possible involvement as a driver, although the veracity of these claims remains under investigation and awaiting official confirmation.
Weapon
The firearm at the heart of the incident is identified as a Bersa automatic pistol in the caliber 7.65 (often referred to as .32 ACP). The weapon appeared to be loaded with five rounds at the time of the confrontation. Remarkably, according to authorities, the pistol did not discharge when Sabag pulled the trigger, and the intended attack did not proceed as planned, leaving investigators to examine the sequence of actions that halted the attempt. The precise factors that prevented the gun from firing are still being evaluated by law enforcement and forensic teams.