A gunman attempted to kill the leader of a Bulgarian political party during a televised conference on Saturday.

The Huffington Post reported that Ahmed Dogan, head of the country’s ethnic Turkish party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was in the midst of speaking at the conference when a man identified as 25-year-old Oktai Enimehmedov rushed the stage and pointed a gas pistol at Dogan’s head.

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The footage shows the gun seemingly misfiring, giving Dogan an opening to bat at the gun before getting away. Enimehmedov is then brought to the ground by security guards, and also attacked by delegates. Dogan was not injured in the attack.

CBC News reported that the gas pistol is usually a non-lethal weapon, but can allegedly cause “life-threatening injuries” if fired at close range. The gunman also allegedly carried two knives.

The conference was reportedly being held to nominate a successor to Dogan, who founded the party 12 years ago. His presumed successor, Lyutvi Mestan, said “the true reason for the assault was the language of hatred and confrontation.”

Watch footage of the attempt on Dogan’s life, posted by The Associated Press on Saturday, below.