European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Praxis most severely condemn the intimidation and threats of hooligans the Roma families living the container settlement of Resnik in Belgrade has been exposed to for six nights already.

The attacks started on 28 August 2013 when a group of at least 20 men wearing hoods attacked the residents of the settlement by metal poles while shouting threats and racist insults. The attackers were throwing stones and broke a window in one of the containers, while children were sleeping under it, and hit one woman with the metal bar as it came through the window. The attackers returned to the settlement on the following nights, shouted insults and threatened to set the residents on fire.

Residents reported the attacks to the police, who attended the scene, and on one night took four of the attackers into custody. However a night patrol car was only stationed at the settlement for protection overnight after six days of repeated attacks, and following an intervention from Praxis and the ERRC. 

The ERRC and Praxis sent a joint letter of concern calling on the authorities take all necessary security measures to protect the Romani families in Resnik container settlement from further attacks and to make a full and thorough investigation, identify and bring to justice all persons involved in the attacks. Key elements of the incidents, such as the ethnicity of the target group, location of the settlement, number of attackers and repetition of violence indicate premeditated and planned hate crime and must be prosecuted as such. 

For more information, see the announcement: Racist Attacks on Resettled Roma in Belgrade
See: Warning of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality