Police intervention required as Heves conflict errupts

The Roma quarter of Heves became a danger zone at the weekend after a crowd of around 300 people armed with hoes and spades gathered around a burnt-out house on Sunday afternoon. Some 15 people were injured in the ensuing brawl, which was dispersed by police using tear gas.

According to Bálint Soltész, press spokesperson of Heves County Police Department, only one police car was on duty in the town at the time the conflict broke out. "At four in the afternoon the backup arrived from the near police departments together with colleagues from Eger and Gyöngyös. People were warned not to assemble in a group," he said.

This latest incident seems to have stemmed from a quarrel between two teenagers on Friday evening. However, victims claim that many of the attackers have been terrorizing the city for weeks. The crowd also damaged two cars on Saturday.

Due to the heightened police presence, the situation returned to normal by Sunday evening. Police units will remain stationed at the site until Monday.

"The unit of sixty police officers will be cruising the area until Monday and heightened security will remain. Of the sixteen suspects three have been arrested", Soltész continued "and only one of them is a minor."

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