Czech Republic: Police detain three people, confiscate 22 weapons during neo-Nazi event in Vítkov
Speaking to journalists after today’s anti-Romani march was over, Tomáš Kužel, director of the Moravian-Silesian Regional Police, told journalists that during today’s demonstration in Vítkov (Opava district) police officers detained three people and confiscated 22 weapons, but there were no clashes of a more serious nature. About 200 people attended the right-wing extremist assembly, but not all of them participated in the march. Around 200 police officers supervised public order during the event.
News server Romea.cz followed the events in Vítkov in real time online. (See http://www.romea.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/domaci/vitkov-on-line-platforma-blokujeme-respektuje-rozhodnuti-radnice-pripoji-se-ke-shromazdeni-srp)
About 200 people, not all of whom were right-wing radicals, attended the neo-Nazi assembly convened by the Czech Lions (Čeští lvi) group. Police have estimated that 150 of the people there were members of the ultra-right.
However, according to the correspondent for news server Romea.cz who followed the anti-Romani crowd through the streets, only around 50 of the people marching were obvious radicals. The police director reported that the demonstrators came from all over the republic.
After Pavel Sládek Matějný of the Czech Lions spoke to the assembly, about 150 people total set out on the announced march through the town. Vítkov is infamous for being the site of an arson attack against a Romani family in 2009.
After the anti-Romani march ended, about 50 participants did their best to get to a nearby gathering of Romani people. Police moved the demonstrators away from Husova Street, where the Roma were meeting.
"Three people were detained for illegal behavior. Roughly 220 persons were also checked when driving into the town and 22 weapons were confiscated," Kužel said.
The police director said various blade weapons and blunt objects such as baseball bats or metal bars were confiscated. He did not give any details about the individuals detained.
Police officers wanted first and foremost to prevent clashes between demonstrators and those participating in the other assembly in a small park on Husova Street, where about 200 Romani people gathered shortly after noon. The right-wing extremists’ announced march route led down Husova Street as well, but police barracaded the path around the little park.
The march itself took place without incident, with participants shouting "Bohemia for the Czechs" and "Our streets, our town" from time to time, but marching quietly for most of it, perhaps because of the very hot and humid weather. Several demonstrators returned to the park after the march was over.
At the assembly convened by the Equal Opportunities Party (Strana rovných příležitostí – SRP) and the Blokujeme! ("Let’s Block the Marches!") platform, music alternated with speeches. Organizers of the event called it a "Happening for good coexistence".
"After the [neo-Nazi] demonstration was announced, the local Romani residents were afraid of what might happen, and they called on us to hold this ‘happening’ here. They have shown that good coexistence and good dialogue results in non-violence. We don’t want violence, we want coexistence of the kind we used to enjoy here," SRP chair Štefan Tišer said.
According to the commander of the police operation today, Radim Daněk, it was possible that people who attended similar neo-Nazi events in České Budějovice and Duchcov would also come to Vítkov. Reporting by news server Romea.cz has confirmed that was the case.
Neo-Nazi Pavel Sládek Matějný led the crowd in Vítkov today just as he did in Duchcov earlier this summer. Police director Kužel said today’s police measures would definitely cost millions of crowns.
Officers stopped cars driving into Vítkov to check their drivers’ identifications and to search the vehicles. A helicopter flew over the town of 6 000 as well.
Vítkov was greatly discussed after a 2009 arson attack took place there during which assailants threw three Molotov cocktails into a small house occupied by a Romani family. Three people were injured during the subsequent blaze.
The most serious injuries were endured by a little girl named Natálka, not even two years old at the time, who suffered burns over 80 % of her body and survived with lifelong consequences for her health. The four right-wing extremists convicted of perpetrating the attack were sentenced to either 20 or 22 years in prison.
Video footage of the police response to today’s anti-Romani demonstration is available at http://www.romea.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/domaci/pri-akci-neonacistu-ve-vitkove-zadrzela-policie-tri-lidi-a-zbrane
