Molotow coctail attack against Roma families in Pátka

Alert DateJune 1, 2008 Country: Hungary Address: Pátka, Fejér county General Type: Racist violence, Hate crime Racism and discrimination phenomena: Inter-ethnic, Anti-roma/ romaphobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Other
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Hungarian
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 3
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

On 14 March 2012, the Székesfehérvár Tribunal (Székesfehérvári Törvényszék) reached a decision in the case of three civil guards, who were charged with throwing Molotow cocktails on the houses of Roma families in Pátka (town in Fejér county) in early June 2008.[1] Nobody was hurt in the attack, but a room where children were sleeping caught on fire. The initial charges were attempted homicide with special cruelty, involving the life of more persons. In the beginning of the criminal procedure, one of the defendants admitted that he committed the crime he was charged with; while the other defendants denied that they were involved in the actions. Later, all the defendants altered their testimonies and stated that even though they were the ones preparing the Molotov cocktails, they gave the petrol bombs to an unknown person on the night of the attack and did not use them themselves. The three civil guards were finally sentenced to imprisonment (one of them to 22 months, and two of them to 20 months of imprisonment, respectively) for being an accomplice to the criminal offence of rowdyism/truculence committed jointly. In the course of the criminal procedure, a fourth person, to whom the Molotov cocktails were allegedly handed over, was charged, but the Székesfehérvár Tribunal acquitted him from all the charges. The decision is not final.

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Sources:

  1. 168ora.hu, 2008.11.22, Vádemelés a Molotov-koktélos támadás ügyében [Charges brought in the case of Molotov-cocktail attack], http://www.168ora.hu/itthon/vademeles-a-molotov-koktelos-tamadas-ugyeben-26984.html, Accessed on 27.01.2013.
  2. Népszabadság, 2012.03.14, De kik dobtak Molotov-koktélt a romák házaira? [But who threw the Molotov-cocktails on the Roma homes?], http://nol.hu/belfold/de_kik_dobtak_molotov-koktelt_a_romak_hazaira_, Accessed on 27.01.2013.