Hungarian police detain suspects over Roma killings

Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:53am EDT

BUDAPEST Aug 21 (Reuters) - Several people have been detained in Hungary on suspicion of carrying out attacks in which several Gypsies, or Roma, were killed, police said on Friday.

A spokesman for the National Investigative Office said six people had been detained in the eastern city Debrecen.

"Five of the six are suspected in connection with a series of attacks against the Roma," he told Reuters.

Earlier this month a 45-year-old Roma woman was shot dead in her home in Kisleta in eastern Hungary, and her 13-year-old daughter wounded.

They were the latest victims of attacks against the Roma, which Hungary's president Laszlo Solyom said could undermine stability. Anti-Roma tensions have heightened in the past years in Hungary where 6-7 percent of the population are Gypsies.

Bartha declined to give further details. Police will hold a news conference later on Friday. (Reporting by Sandor Peto; Editing by Richard Balmforth)



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