Police Charge Man Who Tried to Buy Weapons via Social Media and Made Threats

Brezova pod Bradlom/Bratislava, 6 June (TASR) - Police have charged a 24-year-old man who attempted to obtain weapons via social media and later posted hateful and threatening videos, in which he threatened to kill a group of people, even their families in one post, TASR learnt from Trencin regional spokesperson Petra Klenkova on Friday. According to the police, the accused, hailing from the town of Brezova pod Bradlom, used social media to solicit offers for firearms, ammunition, and a samurai sword. „He allegedly intended to use these against individuals who he claimed had falsely testified against him. The accused recorded videos and wrote messages, which he then posted publicly on his social media. These were accessible and shareable by the public. The content included threats to kill a group of people,” Klenkova explained. The accused also published videos showing the homes of the would-be victims. „In another published video, he threatened that he was going to get a chopping weapon and would hack the victims to pieces. In addition, he posted a video in which he said that if he couldn’t get a gun, he would have to use an axe,” she added. The police apprehended the man and, after carrying out the necessary procedural steps, placed him in a detention cell. The investigator charged him with illegal arming and weapons trafficking in the stage of preparation, as well as violence against a group of inhabitants. A motion was also filed for pre-trial detention, to be decided by the court. mf