Two people smugglers in Hungary have been charged with attempted murder in particularly horrific circumstances. A 19-year-old man and his partner suffered a technical breakdown in March last year while driving from the Serbian border to Austria and had to stop their rented small truck by the side of the road. When a police patrol arrived, the two panicked. The 19-year-old broke the key to the hold where eight Syrian refugees were staying as the flames spread.
When screams were suddenly heard from the cargo hold, the officers reacted quickly and forced open the doors with combined forces. The frightened migrants, struggling for air, climbed out of the smoke-filled space – including a child. The smugglers watched the scenes apathetically, the 19-year-old even took pictures with his mobile phone camera, the prosecutor said in the indictment.
Tractor took pictures of burning vehicle
With these recordings, the suspect apparently wanted to inform his client, who according to detectives is a childhood friend of the 19-year-old, about the failed towing operation. The man and his partner had been members of a smuggling gang since February 2021.
According to the Hungarian detectives, the arrested couple is responsible for a total of four drags involving 40 people. It received 1.5 million forints (about 3,800 euros) for their work. The 19-year-old and his partner are now in custody awaiting the decision of the Kecskemet court. Up to 15 years in prison.
Human trafficker arrested after shooting at police
Two smugglers were also arrested who, together with the Hungarian police, gave chase on Monday. As they fled, the two Iraqi citizens, who were hiding 21 migrants in their van, fired several shots at the police officers. According to reports, no one was injured during the operation.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
