Six detained over attack on Serb nationals in Dubrovnik, held in investigative custody on hate-crime charges

Six men have been placed in investigative custody after a group of masked attackers allegedly used telescopic batons to assault a vehicle bearing Serbian license plates in Dubrovnik.

The incident happened in the early hours of Aug. 22 in the Lapad area. The attackers first struck the parked car, then continued beating the people inside through the damage they had caused. Two 30-year-old Serbian nationals, who were in the driver and front-passenger seats, suffered minor injuries. Two other passengers in the back seat escaped injury.

Dubrovnik police, working with investigators from the Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Administration, identified six men aged between 20 and 27 who they suspect took part in the attack. Police said some of the suspects had temporarily been outside Croatia. All six were arrested during this week and the previous week.

The investigation concluded that the suspects allegedly committed offenses involving violent behavior, bodily injury and damage to another person’s property. Police said the offenses were motivated by hate based on national identity. The suspects were taken to the police detention unit, then brought before an investigative judge at the Dubrovnik County Court, who ordered their detention.

The Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Administration said it takes every form of violence seriously, regardless of the circumstances or motives, and will take all legally prescribed measures to protect public safety and order.

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We emphasize that the Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Administration takes every form of violence seriously, regardless of the circumstances or motives, and takes all measures prescribed by law to protect the safety of citizens and public order.