The probable motive for the shooting that took place in Bratislava on Wednesday was hatred towards people of a different race and sexual orientation, Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic has stated. The murder of two young men under the age of 30 after a shooting that also left one woman injured has been condemned not only by top Slovak state authorities but also by the international community.
In response to the tragedy, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that the „heinous murders that took place in Bratislava on Wednesday are a threat to a society based on respect and tolerance”. According to her, the EU is determined to help in the fight against hate crimes and expressions in all their forms. “We must protect the LGBTIQ community“, added the head of the EC.
„As international partners of Slovakia, we were appalled by the shootings in Bratislava, which appeared to have specifically targeted the LGBTIQ+ community,” reads the common statement of 29 diplomatic missions based in Slovakia provided to RSI by Ondrej Krizko of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “Such acts of hatred are unacceptable. Hate-fueled rhetoric leads to hate-fueled violence and has no place in any country. Support for and protection of human rights of all persons are among shared values that unite us and upon our democratic societies draw our strength.”
The suspect behind the murder that has been reflected by some media as hate-crime fled the scene. After a manhunt, the police reported they had found the shooter dead. Police are investigating suspicions that the double murder was committed with the legally owned gun of the attacker’s father.
Source: RSI, TASR
