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October 12th, 2008
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Pařížská shooting linked to mafias

Police suspect incident is part of ongoing war between crime groups

By Ondřej Bouda
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
March 12th, 2008 issue

On the afternoon of March 8, two unidentified gunmen wounded two Russian-speaking men on Pařížská 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 (ČTK).
The shooting was reportedly preceded by a heated argument between the victims and the assailants, but Prague police spokesman Ladislav Bernášek said it is too early in the investigation to provide further information.
Jan Šubert, spokesman for the BIS counter-intelligence told the daily Lidové 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.” Šubert 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. Šubert 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 Bernášek. “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 Jindřišská street, according to ČTK. 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.

Ondřej Bouda can be reached at news@praguepost.com


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