41-year-old Croatian dies in armed robbery and manhunt in Dolenjska region
On Saturday, a lengthy police operation concluded in the Novo mesto area, during which a 41-year-old Croatian national lost his life. The man carried out multiple armed robberies on Friday and Saturday, attacked police officers and took a hostage.
41-year-old Croatian dies in armed robbery and manhunt in Dolenjska region
On Saturday, a lengthy police operation concluded in the Novo mesto area, during which a 41-year-old Croatian national lost his life. The man carried out multiple armed robberies on Friday and Saturday, attacked police officers and took a hostage.
On Friday evening, the suspect forced a van driver to surrender his vehicle in Kočevje by threatening him with a weapon. Before that, he demanded transport to Kočevje from another driver, also under threat. Dejan Kink, director of the Novo mesto police station, stressed that in these cases, no one was physically injured.
Around midnight, a masked man threatened staff at a petrol station in Črnomelj with a weapon, stole cash and tobacco products, and fled. Police officers found him on the road towards Dolenjske Toplice and began pursuit. They were unable to stop the vehicles. Near Uršne sel, he abandoned the van, fled into the forest and opened fire on law enforcement.
Subsequently, he attacked two police officers in the forest, taking their service weapons and phones. Fortunately, both remained unharmed. The fugitive then moved across difficult terrain, occasionally firing at specialists. The search involved police officers with dogs, drones, forensic experts, a helicopter and members of the Special Unit.
From documents he left behind, investigators determined that he was a former member of the Croatian special police unit. On Thursday, he carried out an armed robbery in Pula during which he shot a 60-year-old man. For this reason, he was being intensively searched for in Croatia.
Towards evening, a resident informed police that he had seen the suspect at a residential house in Uršne sel. They established that he was inside and holding a hostage. Two police officers managed to rescue the captive, after which another exchange of gunfire occurred. Specialists then entered the building, where they found the man without signs of life. The precise circumstances are still being investigated.
Source: N1 Slovenija
Source: Google News SI — Crime (sl)