Dark-skinned girl hurt in racially motivated attack in Slovakia

Three extremists attacked a 16-year-old dark-skinned girl, kicking her and shouting Nazi greetings in Kosice on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Jana Demjanovicova told CTK today.

The perpetrators also told the girl, whose father is Cuban, to go out of Slovakia, Demjanovicova said.
If found guilty they face up to 12 years in prison, she said.

"First they knocked the girl down to the ground. Then all the three started kicking and beating her up, shouting 'Sieg heil' and 'clear off Slovakia' at her," Demjanovicova said.

They only stopped when some passers-by disturbed them, she added.

The girl suffered injuries on her head, back and right arm and her treatment will last about ten days, Demjanovicova said.
The police have so far detained only one of the suspects, a 19-year-old man from Kosice.

The police launched criminal proceedings for the crimes of bodily harm and support and promotion of groups suppressing the fundamental rights and freedoms. Nobody has, however, been charged yet, Demjanovicova said.

There have been several cases of racial hatred and assaults on foreigners and Romanies in Slovakia. Most recently, three foreign students from Greece, Libya and Saudi Arabia were attacked in Bratislava, but the police said the assault was not racially motivated.