Daniel Bombic (source: Sme - Jozef Jakubčo)
Extremist Daniel Bombic, known online as Danny Kollár, was detained by police near the Slovak parliament building beside Bratislava Castle on Wednesday, 17 April.
“We can provide no further information regarding the ongoing actions,” said Bratislava regional police spokesperson Michal Szeiff. Neither the police nor the prosecutor’s office has yet confirmed whether they will seek custody.
The arrest was first reported by JOJ 24 television, which claimed Bombic had continued his criminal activities.
On Tuesday and again on Wednesday, Bombic was present inside the building, observing the parliamentary debate on the proposed draft law concerning non-governmental organisations.
In defiance of court
Bombic is known for his inflammatory rhetoric and online harassment campaigns. He regularly posts antisemitic and racist content, demeans the LGBT+ community and public officials, and published people's personal data.
In January this year, he was extradited from Great Britain to Slovakia. In early February, the Supreme Court ruled that Bombic would not be remanded in custody. However, in its decision on the prosecution's appeal, the court imposed protective measures, including an electronic monitoring bracelet. Bombic has also been banned from leaving the country, posting hateful content on social media, and is required to report to a probation and mediation officer once a month.
"However, you must understand, Mr Bombic, that this can be reassessed at any time," Judge Dana Wänkeová warned Bombic as she read out the court's reasoning. "Be mindful of what you do, where you do it, and how you do it," she added.
However, last week the Sme daily reported that ever since he was released, Bombic has been spreading hateful content online despite the court's decision, and neither the police nor the prosecutor are doing anything. Although in March the police told the daily they were reviewing Bombic's content, no action had been taken since.
Bombic has been verbally attacking public figures, politicians, journalists, judges and prosecutors on his two Telegram accounts. He suggested that unsuccessful presidential candidate Ivan Korčok should "return to (former US president Joe) Biden's anus", called Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) an "incredible crook and Israel's lackey".
Guidelines as to what is hateful
After releasing Bombic, the Supreme Court later issued a written explanation for its decision. In it, it also provided a detailed guidelines on how to distinguish what constitutes a hateful post.
According to the court, when assessing whether a post is of a hateful nature, it will be necessary to assess the language and content of the post, who is the target, the context of the post and the effect on the target and and the wider public. Among the decisive factors are, for example, the use of offensive, dehumanising or derogatory terms, call to violence or indirect incitement to hatred, attacks against people on the basis of their race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
According to the daily, Bombic regularly targets former special prosecutor Daniel Lipšic, whom he accuses of beating his wife. After the attack in Mannehim, Germany, Bombic posted this: "That serves you right, Germans. Now suffer. Continue to bow your heads and be afraid to show your own identity, because of some Holocaust or anti-Semitism and similar laws pushed by the Zionists - pushed through just to intimidate you."
Bombic's behaviour is to be monitored by a probation officer, to whom he must report once a month. When the daily contacted her, she did not reply.
Bombic linked to Smer
Bombic is closely linked to the ruling Smer party through the law firm Kallan Legal, which represents him in court. The firm is owned by Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák, a senior Smer figure. It also rents a two-room flat in the Bratislava borough of Petržalka for Bombic at a monthly rate of €750.
Bombic's legal representation is handled by David Lindtner, an adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Since returning to Slovakia, Bombic has been making increasingly frequent public appearances. These include events such as the recent commemoration at Slavín, where Prime Minister and Smer chair Robert Fico marked the 80th anniversary of Bratislava's liberation by the Soviet army, as well as a protest against a Chinese battery plant in Šurany.
