PARIZKA SHOOTING LINKED TO MAFIAS
By Ondøej Bouda

Prague Post
March 13 2008
Czech Republic

Police suspect incident is part of ongoing war between crime groups

On the afternoon of March 8, two unidentified gunmen wounded two
Russian-speaking men on Paøí~^ska street close to Old Town Square,
leading to strong speculations that the incident is a part of an
ongoing mafia war. The victims, a 26-year-old who was shot in the
leg and a 33-year-old who was shot in the arm, were hospitalized,
and both gunmen escaped the scene, according to the Czech News Agency
(ÈTK). The shooting was reportedly preceded by a heated argument
between the victims and the assailants, but Prague police spokesman
Ladislav Berna~Zek said it is too early in the investigation to
provide further information.Jan ~Jubert, spokesman for the BIS
counter-intelligence told the daily Lidove noviny March 10 that he
thought the shooting seemed to be part of "a continuing war between
Caucasian groups, and the Armenian and Chechen mafias." ~Jubert could
not be reached by press time for further comment. Previous similar
incidents include the Nov. 13 stabbing of a Russian-speaking man on
Wenceslas Square. Two weeks later in Vinohrady, a hired gunman –
reportedly targeting a Russian mafia boss – killed a driver in a
case of mistaken identity. ~Jubert speculated that this most recent
shooting could have ended a ceasefire agreement that the two groups
may have reached late last year. "The solution to a mafia war in
Prague will be a complex and long-term process," said Berna~Zek.

"Initially we are planning to send more uniformed officers out on
to the streets as well as plain-clothed policemen for the tourist
season to ensure the safety of Prague visitors." Over the past
year, other shootings in downtown Prague not related to suspected
mafia activities included an April incident in which a passer-by was
injured by a ricocheting bullet when a policeman fired at a suspected
thief on Jindøi~Zska street, according to ÈTK. In July, two people
suspected of extortion were shot by police near Uhelný trh square. In
order to minimize civilian casualties during chases with criminals,
the police are considering using rubber bullets and shooting nets,
according to a police press release.

–Boundary_(ID_FFK3r3erQ5BwTku++/soAQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress