Slovakia might deal with killings outdoors homosexual bar as terrorism, prosecutor says By Reuters

By Robert Muller and Jason Hovet

(Reuters) -Slovakia might deal with the killing of two folks outdoors a widely known homosexual bar within the capital Bratislava as an act of terrorism, a high prosecutor stated on Friday, as investigators seemed deeper into the capturing which has rattled the central European state.

The killings, investigated as a doable hate crime though police have but to find out its motives, have sparked outrage from politicians and rights teams, and prompted the president to name for reflection on the political local weather within the nation.

Hundreds gathered in downtown Bratislava in a while Friday to point out solidarity with the LGBT group, many waving the rainbow flags symbolising the motion for homosexual rights or carrying banners like “Cease the violence!”.

Police discovered the suspected killer useless on Thursday morning, after he shot his victims outdoors the Teplaren bar within the metropolis centre on Wednesday night. Police stated they suspected the shooter then killed himself.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger has known as the shooter a “radicalised teenager”, whereas President Zuzana Caputova stated in a Fb (NASDAQ:) put up the capturing was a hate crime.

On Friday, police and judicial officers stated investigations thus far confirmed no indications the killer knew his victims.

Police on Friday recognized these killed as 23-year-old Matus H. and 26-year-old Juraj V. A 3rd sufferer, Radoslava T., 28, was wounded in her leg.

Police stated the suspected killer was 19-year-old Juraj Ok. who had used a gun with a laser sight, registered to a relative.

Slovak media reported the suspect had posted messages with the phrases “hate crime” and “homosexual bar” hashtagged on Twitter, and he had posted a manifesto towards the LGBT and Jewish communities earlier than the killings.

Particular Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic stated the manifesto and extra proof have been being examined.

“The suspicion is that the motive of this act was to destabilise society,” he informed a televised briefing. “These factors lead us to the doable consideration that we might classify this prison offence as an act of terrorism.”

A number of officers, together with Heger and Caputova, joined the solidarity march in Bratislava.

“A pair days in the past, hatred intentionally hit straight at our hearts, it hit us all, as a result of it hit crucial values,” Caputova informed the gathering.

Shortly after the capturing, Caputova accused unspecified politicians of “filling the area with hate”. Her critique comes as far-right events have made positive aspects in recent times.

The finance minister relied on lawmakers from a far-right opposition occasion in June to push via a invoice aimed toward serving to folks hit by excessive power costs. That vote sparked a row within the ruling coalition that led a junior occasion to stop final month, leaving the federal government with a minority in parliament.