News digest: Schools hit by email bomb threats just a day after school year restarts
Ex-top prosecutor found guilty of corruption again, trip to the region of Andy Warhol’s family, and be more cautious with your phone.
Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, September 3 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Bomb threats disrupt schools across Slovakia
Police Vice President Rastislav Polakovič, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas), and Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) during a press conference on the 270 reported bomb threats in Slovak schools on September 3, 2024, in Bratislava. (Source: TASR - Dano Veselský)Nearly 270 schools across Slovakia received bomb threats via email on Tuesday morning, prompting evacuations and police investigations. The number of affected schools could have been even higher if some principals had not checked their email inboxes, including spam folders, for the threats.
Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) advised schools to end classes by 11:00 as a precautionary measure, despite no explosives being found at any location.
“Bomb threats to schools are a barbaric act, regardless of the fact that no real danger has been confirmed so far,” the minister said in a press statement.
In response, Slovak police launched a criminal investigation into an act of terrorism. If caught, the perpetrator faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Authorities, however, declined to comment on whether the threats bore similarities to a similar incident in May, when more than 1,500 schools across Slovakia were targeted with bomb threats.
Tuesday’s bomb scares extended beyond Slovakia’s borders, with hundreds of schools in the Czech Republic also receiving emails claiming that explosives had been planted on their premises. Slovak and Czech police are collaborating on the investigation, working to track down those responsible for the threats, the TASR news agency reported on Tuesday.
The bomb threats were strongly condemned by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who had attended the opening of the school year a day earlier at a primary school in Banská Bystrica, where he had once been a student. In a speech to the students, Pellegrini lightened the atmosphere with a remark that garnered attention on social media.
“I stand here before you, students, as proof that if you study well, you too can one day become the president of Slovakia,” he quipped.
Pellegrini’s victory in this year’s presidential elections was largely attributed to his campaign, which played on fears of war, and support from the ruling Smer party.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Corruption: Former top anti-corruption prosecutor Dušan Kováčik was found guilty in a second corruption case by the Specialised Criminal Court on Tuesday.
- Analysis: Where’s the highest quality of life in Central Europe’s capitals?
- Spyware: Slovak intelligence agencies might now have complete control over virtually any mobile phone and some other electronic devices.
- Roots in Slovakia: In the latest edition of the Slovak Roots newsletter, set out on a journey through Myjava’s distillation heritage, check out our handy map of local cemeteries, and dive into the stories of a passionate Slovak diplomat and Slovak-American Michael John Meehan.
- Archaeology: A Slovak-Polish archaeological team uncovered exceptionally well-preserved skeletal remains of a young man from the Pit Grave culture, marking the first evidence of this ancient Indo-European population in Slovakia.
If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.
FEATURE STORY
Will a Montmartre be in Medzilaborce?
Museum of Andy Warhol in Medzilaborce is under complete reconstruction. (Source: SME-Jozef Ryník)In this report, discover Medzilaborce’s rich history, from World War-era ruins to the revival of its Museum of Andy Warhol, and explore local gems like the Driečna guest house, which blends modern comforts with charming local hospitality.
We have also put together a list of must-see spots to include in your itinerary if you are planning a visit to the region.
EVENT
Iconic 90s boy band in Bratislava
Get ready to groove, Slovakia! Take That is making a grand return with their spectacular “This Life On Tour”, and they are hitting the stage for the first time in Slovakia. Catch the iconic band live in Bratislava on October 15, 2024.
IN OTHER NEWS
- Volkswagen in Slovakia will not lay off employees at its Bratislava and Martin plants in connection with the parent group’s recent announcement of possible plant closures around the world. (TASR)
- Bratislava airport will offer direct flights to Madeira, Phuket, and Mauritius as travel agency Čedok expands its range of destinations. Starting at the end of September, flights to Madeira will be available, while long-haul flights to Phuket and Mauritius will commence at the end of October. Čedok will partner with the Italian airline Neos, which will deploy a modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for charter flights.
- The outdoor swimming pools in Bratislava, managed by the Administration of Sports and Recreational Facilities (STaRZ), will remain open at least until September 8.
- The average nominal monthly wage of employees in Slovakia’s economy increased by 7.1 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, reaching €1,520. This represents an average gross wage that was €101 higher than in the same period of the previous year. After adjusting for inflation, the real wage rose by 4.9 percent in the second quarter. (Statistics Office)
- Starting November 1, Prima Banka will adjust its fee schedule.
- Analysts from the Justice Ministry predicted over a year ago that raising the threshold for minor thefts from €266 to €700 would significantly increase the number of such offences going unpunished. Despite this forecast, Minister Boris Susko (Smer) denies that the recent rise in thefts is a result of the changes to criminal laws. However, Susko has no analysis to support his stance, as he dissolved the entire analytical centre in August. (Sme)
- On Tuesday, police officers delivered a petition to Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) demanding better financial and working conditions, with 800 officers signing it. Petition initiator Štefan Birmon highlighted that around 1,100 officers have decided to leave the police force, creating difficult-to-fill gaps, and criticised the adequacy of the one-time €5,000 bonus and €100 housing allowance. (TASR)
- Financier Jaroslav Haščák has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from the state for wrongful prosecution related to a December 2020 charge. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Slovakia later dismissed the bribery charges in August 2021 due to their illegality.
Two new artworks, “Cievka” (coil) and “Last Splash”, have been installed in the square in front of the historic national cultural monument Pradiareň 1900 (spinning mill) in Bratislava. Both pieces reflect the site’s history. (Source: TASR - Dano Veselský)WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Expect a mix of sunshine and partly cloudy skies across most of Slovakia on Wednesday. Isolated showers or thunderstorms may occur, but the main weather feature will be extreme heat. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach between 28°C and 35°C. Heat warnings will be in effect for nearly all regions, except for the Žilina Region and most areas in the Prešov Region. Stay hydrated and seek shade if you’re out and about. (SHMÚ)
SEPTEMBER 4 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Rozália.
Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
