A stringent security regime has been put in place in Slovakia since the terror attacks in Paris, which has resulted in the arrests of some 20 people who resided in Slovakia illegally, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák told a press conference on Thursday, November 19.
The majority of those arrested were illegal migrants, who have, in the interim, been extradited from Slovakia - sent back to camps on the other side of the border via which they entered Slovakia. Four cases were specific, however. An Algerian national, who is believed to have lived in the village of Smižany near Spišská Nová Ves (Košice region), has been detained on suspicion of having entered into a sham marriage with a Slovak national. In this connection, police looked into suspicions that the man might have received potentially suspicious mail from France, but it turned out to involve only documents. The man is believed to have come to Slovakia from Western Europe and will ultimately be repatriated, according to ministry spokesman Ivan Netík.
In another case, a citizen of Saudi Arabia, while residing in Slovakia legally, has been seeking to extend his time in Slovakia by means of unorthodox and purpose-serving methods and he, too, is in the process of becoming persona non grata in Slovakia. "We've detected changes in his behaviour which turned out to affect his frame of mind. He's begun to assemble and has even tested some flying machines of larger dimensions ... he's been arrested", the minister added.
Police have also apprehended two people who were about to leave Slovakia. Their identities are still being ascertained. "They came from France, where they used identity documents listed as stolen", said Kaliňák. The two men also had large amounts of money with them. No charges have as yet been pressed against any of the four people.
