Skinheads attack Gay Pride march

As the SME editorial ironically remarks, "Police failed to notice the extremists." On 23 May, the 500 participants in Bratislava's and Slovakia's first every Gay Pride were attacked by skinheads. With shouts of "garbage queers" and "Slovakia is ours," the group of 80 extremists launched a rain of eggs, stones and tear gas before physically attacking gay marchers and other demonstrators who attempted to defend them. The daily is highly critical of the role of police "who failed to provide sufficient protection for the marchers," several of whom were injured. It also blames "Interior Minister Kaliňák who has taken advantage of his few remaining days in office to discredit himself once again" in the run-up to general elections to be held on 12 June.