Hungary Detains Slovak Suspect Over Planned Acid Attack

Budapest/Bratislava, 24 June (TASR-correspondent) - Hungarian authorities have detained a Slovak national accused of planning attacks on two women in eastern Slovakia, including an alleged plot to throw acid over one of them, Slovak police reported on Tuesday. Lea Vilhanova, spokesperson for the press department of the Police Corps Presidium, told TASR that the arrest was the result of intensive intelligence-sharing and international police cooperation between Slovakia's National Centre for Special Types of Crime and Hungarian investigators operating within the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST). The suspect, a 32-year-old Slovak man, was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant and was located and arrested in Hungary by specialised Hungarian police units. According to police, the man attempted to evade justice while on the run by using sophisticated concealment methods. He allegedly operated under false identities and repeatedly changed his place of residence in northern Hungary. Despite these efforts, investigators were able to track him down and secure his arrest. The suspect was charged in May this year by investigators from the organised crime unit of the Police Corps Presidium with aggravated violent offences. Based on findings to date, he is alleged to have been involved in planning physical attacks against two women in eastern Slovakia. One of the planned attacks reportedly involved throwing acid over one of the intended victims. The planned offences were ultimately not carried out due to the timely intervention and operational activities of the police. The Budapest Metropolitan Court has ordered the suspect to be held in provisional extradition custody pending the completion of the necessary procedural and judicial steps related to his extradition to Slovakia for criminal prosecution. A relevant Hungarian court will decide on the extradition request. mf