When you arrive in a new country, you expect safety and peace. However, sometimes reality can be different. In Nitra, the police detained four young people suspected of attacking Indian citizens on August 1, 2026. This incident caused a wide resonance and forced the city authorities to review security measures, especially for foreigners, including Ukrainians.
Details of the attack and investigation
The attack happened at night from July 31 to August 1 on Wilsonovo nábrežie in Nitra. A group of men in balaclavas attacked several foreigners, including an Indian student Ansar, who studies and works in the city. As a result of the attack, Ansar suffered serious injuries and needed surgery. According to the victims, the attack had a racist motive because the aggressors asked "Where are you from?" before attacking.
At first, the police qualified the event as a simple offense against public coexistence. However, considering the possible racial motive, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Nitra instructed the investigators of the Regional Police Directorate (KR PZ) in Nitra to reclassify the case. Now it is being investigated as a crime of bodily harm committed with a motive of hatred due to race or nationality, as well as hooliganism.
On Thursday, August 20, as part of a police operation called «Predsudok» (Prejudice), four teenagers were detained. The police conducted searches in three locations. Investigative actions are ongoing, and additional information is not yet disclosed.
Public and authorities' reaction
The incident caused a wave of outrage and condemnation from authorities and the public. The rector of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, František Petrovic, the mayor of Nitra Marek Hattas, and the chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Richard Raši, strongly condemned the manifestations of violence, racism, and xenophobia. They emphasized that Slovakia must remain a hospitable and safe country for everyone who comes here to study or work.
The mayor of Nitra, Marek Hattas, stated that the city plans to strengthen surveillance in risky areas to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Context for Ukrainians in Slovakia
This attack is especially alarming because, according to reports, it is not the first similar incident in Nitra. At the same place where the attack on Indian students occurred, two weeks earlier, teenagers from Ukraine were attacked. This highlights the importance of being vigilant and knowing how to act in dangerous situations.
Such events remind of the need for caution, especially for foreigners living in Slovakia. If you witness or become a victim of a similar attack, it is important to immediately contact the police.
What to do in such situations
If you or your acquaintances face manifestations of aggression or violence based on nationality or origin, we advise:
Immediately contact the police: Call 112 (the single emergency number) or 158 (police).
Record details: If it is safe, try to remember the attackers' features, place, and time of the event.
Seek medical help: If there are injuries, be sure to see a doctor.
Notify the embassy/consulate: Ukrainian citizens can contact the consular offices of Ukraine in Slovakia for help and advice.
You can find more current news and useful information for Ukrainians in Slovakia on the news page.
Source: Polícia v Nitre zadržala štyroch mladistvých podozrivých z útoku na Indov [cite:original]
