Assassination of Ivo Pukanić: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 22:36, 24 October 2008
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2008) |
| 23 October 2008 Zagreb bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Downtown Zagreb, Croatia |
| Coordinates | 45°48′48″N 15°58′48″E / 45.81333°N 15.98000°E |
| Date | 23 October 2008 1822 (UTC+2) |
| Target | Ivo Pukanić |
| Weapons | car bomb |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
The 23 October 2008 Zagreb bombing was an attack by a remote-detonation bomb outside the Croatian Nacional newspaper's premises in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. The attack killed the owner of the newspaper, Ivo Pukanić, and another employee, and injured three more people. The explosion occurred in the centre of the capital at 18:22 local time (16:22 GMT). As of now, there are only informal speculations as to the motive of the assassin.[1]
The attack followed a string of attacks in Zagreb throughout 2008 that have been linked to organised crime. Also, it came amid fears that rising violence could threaten Croatia's image and success during EU accession talks in 2009.[2]
Preceding events
Prior Pukanić assassination attempt
Pukanić, an influential and controversial person in Croatian politics, was already targeted in a murder attempt on April 9, 2008 in western downtown Zagreb, near Franjo Tuđman Square. He was shot at with a revolver. Pukanić threw himself on the pavement and successfully dodged the shot, while the shooter's gun subsequently jammed, causing him to flee the crime scene. The police suspected the attempt to be a warning to Pukanić intended to discourage him from certain activities. Police protection was assigned to Pukanić immediately following the event. However, it is unknown whether he was under protection during the October 23 bombing and, if he was, where the police officers responsible for his life were.[3]
2008 Zagreb crime wave
| 2008 mafia-related violence in Zagreb: April 9: Failed assassination attempt on Ivo Pukanić.[4] |
The bombing was quickly associated by the media with the increased occurrence of crime in Zagreb in 2008.[9] The crime wave started with the Ribnjak Park killing of a Bad Blue Boys football fan in early spring, followed by a retaliation by other BBB members.[10][11] A mob beating with deadly consequences on a bus stop in the high-traffic Većeslav Holjevac Avenue ensued.[12]
The latest in the stream of crime events was the murder of Ivana Hodak, the daughter of an influential lawyer Zvonimir Hodak, who defended the alleged war profiteer general Vladimir Zagorec. The murder caused the Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to fire Marijan Benko, chief of Zagreb Police Department, Berislav Rončević, Minister of Internal Affairs and Ana Lovrin, Minister of Justice. Rončević was replaced by Tomislav Karamarko and Lovrin by Ivan Šimonović.[9][13]
Details
At 1800, Pukanić entered his Lexus with Niko Franjić, the Nacional director of marketing. A bomb placed in the trashcan next to his parked Lexus exploded soon after. Pukanić was instantly killed by the blast while Franjić remained alive for a few more seconds. Two graphic design students from a nearby school were injured by shrapnels.[14][2] The incident happened on a parking lot in Palmotićeva Street, near Stara Vlaška Street and Josip Lang Square, only two street blocks east of the main Zagreb square, Ban Jelačić Square. The police immediately blocked the traffic around the site of assassination, causing immense traffic jams all over the city center.
A man was seen running away from the explosion down the Palmotićeva Street. The man was described as being in his early thirties, wearing a baseball cap and running with no regard for the traffic.[15][16][3] goodie
Reactions
In a special press conference the Prime Minister of Croatia Ivo Sanader denounced the attack and declared that he would not allow "Croatia to become Beirut," though he declined a proposal for entering a state of emergency.[17] He further stated that, "This is no longer merely a fight against organised crime... this is something all of us in Croatia will rise up against."[2] Mirjana Pukanić, Ivo's estranged wife with whom he was involved with in a very public scandal earlier in the year, was shocked to find out about the assassination.[18] The media in special reports have called for a special anti-mafia operation similar to the Serbian "Sabre" Operation concluded after the assassination of the former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, which resulted in hundreds of arrests and a substantial decrease of Serbian mafia activities. However, there has been no news so far from the Police Department as to a possible operation.[17] Such an action was already called for by the public after the murder of Ivana Hodak.[17][19]
President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić said the attack meant "terrorism has become a fact on the streets of [Zagreb]".[2]
Possible motives
Pukanić has been known as a controversial figure, with close ties to the underworld and to politicians. Croatian media has reported he was a regular guest at all receptions by president Stjepan Mesić.
Pukanić's Nacional was known for uncovering cigarette smuggling schemes involving, among others, a Swiss-based Serbian tycoon Stanko Subotić and Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović.[20]
References
- ^ Škaričić, Nataša (2008-10-23). "UBIJEN IVO PUKANIĆ Policija: Niti jedan motiv ne može se isključiti". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "Zagreb car bomb kills journalist". BBC News. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ a b "Ivo Pukanic, Niko Franjic Killed, Two Injured". Javno.hr. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ "Neuspjeli atentat na Ivu Pukanića". Nacional (in Croatian). 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ "Suzavcem pošpricali pa palicom pretukli direktora Zagrebačkih cesta". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ "Pretučen novinar Dušan Miljuš". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ Škalić, Marina (2008-09-18). "Josip Galinec vratit će se na posao već idući tjedan". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Ivanković, Davor (2008-10-06). "Ivana Hodak (26) ubijena ispred svog stana jednim metkom ispaljenim u vrat". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Croatia vows action against crime wave". Reuters. ekathimerini. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ "Ribnjak Park the Scene of the Killing of a Youth Three Weeks ago To Get Round-the-Clock Wardens". Croatiapress. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ "Zagreb's Mayor Protects Fans, Punks Panic". Javno.hr. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ "Suspect Confess to Attacking Luka Ritz". Javno.hr. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ "Novi ministri Šimonović i Karamarko položili prisegu". Vijesti.net (in Croatian). 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ "Ubijeni Pukanić i Franjić; izvanredno stanje?". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ "Eksplodirao auto bomba pored Nacionala, ubijen Ivo Pukanić?!". Ezadar.hr (in Croatian). 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ "Ubijen Ivo Pukanić". Poslovni.hr (in Croatian). 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ a b c Special report on Nova TV (October 23, 2008)
- ^ "Mirjana Pukanic: Ivo Killed? I Cannot Believe It". Javno.hr. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ Jandrijević Tomas, Saša (2008-10-11). "Načelnik Mile Novaković: Srpska 'Sablja' sasjekla bi hrvatsku mafiju". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ Croatia: Murder of publisher shocks government