Roma and Jobbik in mass brawl

A mass brawl broke out in north-east Hungary Sunday as local Roma attempted to disrupt a gathering of the far-right party Jobbik. Fighting broke out among 40-50 people in Sajóbábony and cars were smashed.

Trouble began brewing on Saturday when the owner of a local store hosted a rally for Jobbik and members of the banned Magyar Gárda. Local Roma were outraged but no clashes occurred on Saturday. However a group of Roma slapped the store owner in the face. He then led Magyar Gárda and the local Jobbik supporters to the local Roma ghetto.

A large number of Roma went home after Roma Civil Rights Foundation leader Aladár Horváth tried to calm the mood by telephone.

Mayor Imre Nagy said outsiders attended a Jobbik rally on Saturday, which irked local Roma, who threatened the head of the party’s local chapter.

Jobbik said “regrettable and tragic Gypsy terror” has shown that the parliamentary parties have undermined police and law enforcement bodies to the extent that they are unable to defend the Hungarian population. Party chairman Gábor Vona and Róbert Kiss, national commander of the Új Gárda Movement will visit the village on Tuesday to gather information. Jobbik MEP Csanád Szegedi said gendarmes of the Új Magyar Gárda are prepared to restore law and order in Hungary.

A group of angry Roma smashed a parked car with shovels and several of them shouted "by morning we shall kill all Hungarians," according to reports.

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