Slovakia: Romani pharmacy student attacked, her father claims it was racism

An unidentified assailant used a wooden stick to attack Tereza Berkyová, a young Romani woman who is a gifted violinist and pharmacy student, after she performed with a folklore ensemble at a festival last weekend in the town of Detva. Her father told the Slovak TV station Markíza that he believes the attack was racially motivated.

The 20-year-old was hospitalized after the assault. "Her jaw is broken in two places," a physician at the hospital in the town of Martin told Markíza.  

The young woman has since undergone an operation. The attack took place as she was on the way to the restroom.  

Her father, Roman Berky, who is a famous violinist and teacher at an arts school, said the assailant apparently struck his daughter several blows to the head. "They say he had a shaved head and shouted something about refugees during the attack," he said.

"In my opinion this had a racial subtext," Berky told Markíza. Mária Faltániová, spokesperson for the Banská Bystrica Police, confirmed that "Police in Detva have received a criminal report of suspected assault."