Suspected Armed Robber, Ex-Special Forces Member, Found Dead After Manhunt in Slovenia

A dramatic manhunt concluded with the discovery of a dead suspect in Slovenia's Črnomelj region after a nearly 24-hour pursuit. Police were searching for an armed man believed to be responsible for an armed robbery at a gas station.

The suspect, identified as a 41-year-old Croatian national, was found deceased inside a building in the village of Uršna sela on Saturday evening. Initial reports suggest he was a former member of Croatian special forces. According to Slovenian media, the man allegedly fired at police officers during the pursuit before barricading himself in the building, leading to a tense standoff.

Residents of Uršna sela reported hearing gunshots around 6 p.m. on Saturday, as the area was under a complete police lockdown for much of the afternoon. The extensive search operation involved numerous police units, and a police helicopter was observed flying over the wider area throughout the day. The suspect was reportedly armed with automatic weapons.

The incident began Friday evening when police received a report of an armed robbery at a gas station. Although no one was injured during the robbery, the perpetrator fled the scene in a van. Police located the suspect early Saturday morning in the vicinity of Uršna sela, near Travni Dol and later Dobindol.

Following the discovery of the suspect's body, the Novo Mesto Police Department announced that the danger to the public had ended. They confirmed that officers would leave the area after completing their scene investigation, and traffic would be restored. The police thanked the public for their cooperation, patience, and adherence to warnings during the operation.

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We inform all residents of the wider Uršna sela area that there is no longer any danger. Police officers will leave the area after the scene investigation is completed, and traffic will be restored.