African man allegedly beaten in Bratislava, mocked by police

A 30-year-old man from Nigeria was verbally and physically assaulted on Saturday in the early hours in the Slovak capital and he was ridiculed by policemen whom he addressed, the man told CTK today.

But Bratislava police spokeswoman Tatiana Kurucova dismissed the information.

Sandra Candrakova from the People Against Racism said that the man was knocked down and attacked by a yet unidentified group. The attackers allegedly shouted "What are you doing here, negro?! This is no Africa!"

When police arrived on the spot and the man showed them the attackers, the policemen allegedly told him "Shut up, you're not in Africa!"

But Kurucova said that a police patrol arrested the Nigerian man because he attacked a 22-year-old youth. She said that the man was aggressive and that the policemen had to defend themselves. She pointed out that the police acted in accordance with the law.

Candrakova said that the attacked man has been living in the town of Martin, central Slovakia, with his wife for three years.

She said this was the fourth racially motivated attack reported to the police this month in Slovakia.

People Against Racism recently informed about an attack against Mexican students and a Spaniard. A group of Vietnamese was attacked and threatened over their race last Friday in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, the organisation said. Last week, police registered that a young Romany man was seriously injured and robbed.

According to official data, nearly 200 racially motivated attacks occurred in Slovakia in 2006. However, Candrakova said that the real number was much higher as many victims did not report the attacks.