The police qucikly arrested three suspects for the attack.
The Centre for Education of Children and Youth in Karlovac is just one of the addresses in Croatia where the state accommodates migrant children who arrive in Croatia. The centre in Karlovac currently houses seven minors who have recently arrived and were found at the border unaccompanied and have requested international protection, reports Večernji List on February 9, 2017.
This week, an 18-year-old man from Iraq who has asylum in Croatia and has been accommodated at the centre was attacked on the streets. It took less than 24 hours for the police to find the attackers. Late on Tuesday evening, they beat the young Iraqi so much that the next day he had to have his jaw operated on in a hospital in Zagreb.
The police arrested a 21-year-old man, a 36-year-old man and one minor, who said that they had beaten him for no particular reason. They will be charged for a criminal act of inflicting serious bodily injury. All of them are known to the police due to taking part in various fights.
Other residents of the centre and the staff were in shock due to the attack. “He is a very nice person, quiet and withdrawn, but cheerful and bright young man. He has been with us for three months and has perfectly integrated in the community. He socializes with other residents, children from Afghanistan and residents from Croatia. He is the only asylum seeker living here, he speaks excellent English and has even learned a little bit of Croatian. He has made excellent progress and wants to stay here because he likes Croatia. During his stay with us, he has never had any problems, and of course he was allowed to freely move in the town, just like all other residents of the centre”, said Nataša Vučković Ivošević, director of the centre.
She visited the boy in the hospital and talked with the police to make sure that the boy was well. “Both he and seven other residents who have requested international protection have adapted to the community. He takes part in all the workshops, facilities and a regular daily routine that we have in the centre, he socializes with other people and lives like everyone else. There are no barriers or prejudice. The children have recently visited the ice skating rink and were thrilled, because some of them have never stood on skates before. We have provided them with warmth which has enabled them to relax, to enjoy themselves as much as they can while they are with us. That is why I am particularly sorry for this incident, since it does not really reflect anyone’s attitude. Karlovac is not such a town; this is an open place with friendly people. There is no discrimination here”, added the director of the centre.
