Drunk man breaks paramedic's nose at Bratislava hospital, second attack this week
Police arrested a 34-year-old Irish man after he attacked two staff at a Bratislava hospital's emergency department, the second such assault on Slovak medics in days.
Also in:Slovenčina
A 34-year-old Irish man was detained by police on Friday after attacking two staff at the emergency department of Ruzinov hospital in Bratislava, breaking one of their noses, Slovak police said.
The man had been sleeping on a bench in the hospital's waiting room before the attack, police said. Officers were called to the scene shortly after 08:30 following a report to the emergency line, and detained the suspect in a hospital corridor.
A hospital employee suffered a facial injury in the attack, police said. Eva Kliska, a spokeswoman for Bratislava University Hospital, confirmed the incident happened in the emergency department.
Bratislava regional police said they strongly condemned aggressive behaviour towards medical staff and would not tolerate it, adding that the case would be pursued through the courts.
Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka said the attack, coming so soon after a separate assault on medical staff, confirmed what he called a systemic failure to protect healthcare workers, and said punishment alone would not solve the problem. He said medics deserved protection and support from the whole of society.
The attack came days after a drunk man assaulted a 23-year-old nurse in the emergency department of a hospital in Bratislava's Kramare district, hitting her in the head and then trying to strangle her; she suffered facial injuries and psychological harm and was unable to work afterwards. Hospital staff and a patient restrained the attacker, and police later charged a 63-year-old Austrian man over that assault.
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said he had opened talks with the health minister on further steps, including possible legislative changes and closer cooperation between hospitals and police. Health Minister Kamil Sasko said the ministry was finalising measures to prevent attacks on medical staff, particularly in emergency departments, including a stronger police presence.
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What we know
- Official · Police A 34-year-old Irish man was detained after attacking two staff at the emergency department of Ruzinov hospital in Bratislava on Friday, breaking one of their noses, police said.
- Official · Police The man had been sleeping on a waiting-room bench before the attack; officers were called shortly after 08:30, police said.
- Official · Police/prosecutors It is the second attack on medical staff at a Bratislava hospital emergency department in days; a 63-year-old Austrian man was charged over the earlier assault on a 23-year-old nurse.
- Official · Prosecutor General Zilinka Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka called the repeated attacks a systemic failure to protect healthcare workers.
- Official · Interior/Health Ministries Slovakia's interior and health ministries said they are discussing further measures, including possible legislative changes and a stronger police presence in emergency departments.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
Two attacks on hospital staff in Bratislava within days have pushed the government to discuss legislative changes and stronger police protection for medics, with the prosecutor general and health and interior ministers all responding publicly. The case highlights safety concerns for emergency-department staff, who are increasingly dealing with violent incidents during their shifts, often involving intoxicated patients.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- TA3: Útok na urgente v Bratislave: Opitý cudzinec spal na lavičke v čakárni, potom napadol zdravotníkov. Jednému zlomil nos
- SME: Na urgente nemocnice v bratislavskom Ružinove napadol muž dvoch zdravotníkov
- Denník N: Ďalšie napadnutie zdravotníkov na bratislavskom urgente: znovu útočil opitý muž, polícia ho zadržala
- Topky.sk: AKTUÁLNE Ďalší útok v bratislavskej nemocnici: Opitý pacient mal na urgente napadnúť zdravotníka a ošetrovateľa!
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Questions and answers
- What happened at the Bratislava hospital?
- A 34-year-old Irish man was detained after attacking two emergency-department staff, breaking one person's nose, police said.
- Is this linked to another recent attack?
- It follows a separate assault days earlier on a nurse at a different Bratislava hospital, for which a 63-year-old Austrian man was charged.
- What is the government doing about it?
- Slovakia's interior and health ministries said they are discussing legislative changes and a stronger police presence to protect medical staff.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.