Men charged with hate crime for assaulting Egyptian national

Prosecutors in Čakovec, Croatia, have charged two men, aged 23 and 26, with attempted grievous bodily harm motivated by hate. The incident occurred on February 28, 2026, when the pair allegedly initiated an unprovoked verbal assault on a 36-year-old Egyptian national inside a store in the Međimurje County.

The prosecution's indictment details that the men confronted the victim, invading his personal space and taunting him based on his nationality. They reportedly issued threats, stating, "We'll wait for you somewhere and slap you." Following the confrontation in the store, the two suspects allegedly pursued the victim in their car after he exited.

According to the indictment, driven by intolerance towards the victim's national origin, the men exited their vehicle. They are accused of knocking the Egyptian national off his bicycle and then taking turns striking him with a wooden plank on his head and body. The victim suffered minor injuries, and prosecutors noted that more severe harm was averted solely due to chance circumstances.