Czech Police investigating shots fired at Romani summer camp and local police procedure

Yesterday news server Romea.cz published an interview in which we reported on an incident of a man who fired warning shots and shouted verbal abuse at Romani children participating in a summer camp with the Čhavorenge choir in the Děčín area. Regional Police are now investigating.

The investigation will include ascertaining why police officers from the local station did not go to the scene when the summer camp organizers called for aid. According to the most recent information published by news server iDNES.cz, Regional Police Director Jaromír Kníže has entrusted his deputy and the head of Internal Affairs Department to review the case on the basis of the interview published by news server Romea.cz.

"At the same time we are requesting the return of the file for further investigation and it has already been sent to the Municipal Authority of Varnsdorf," Regional Police spokesperson Jana Slámová said. The results of the police investigation should be known by the end of this week.

"Nobody has contacted me, nor has anybody provided me with any information about the course of the investigation. A protocol about the incident was basically compiled thanks to our efforts and our decision to go to the station in person. The police showed no interest and it's continuing in that vein," choir director Ida Kelarová told news server Romea.cz.

News server Romea.cz is informed that lawyers have begun to take an interest in the entire situation. Nonprofit organizations focused on human rights protection have apparently also taken an interest.

The incident happened at the beginning of August in Jiřetín pod Jedlovou. A local resident whose single-family home abuts the campus of the facility where the recreation camp is located "charged" at the children and managers there twice over the course of three days using an unspecified weapon to shoot into the air during his forays.

After the second incident the managers of the camp decided to call police, who refused to come to the scene to handle the case despite repeated urging. After further complaints were made to the police the behavior of the aggressor has been qualified as a misdemeanor for now.