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'Polish Breivik' detained for three more months

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 07.02.2013 11:30
UPDATE - A Krakow court has ruled that a man who allegedly planned to blow up Poland's parliament shall be held under arrest for a further three months.

photo
photo - Nasza Klasa

Yesterday, the man's lawyers claimed that he had wanted to punish “arrogant” politicians, rather than express any political ideology.

“The preparation for the attack was not related to political convictions,” said lawyer Maciej Burdas, in an interview with the TVN24 news channel.

“It was supposed to be against the arrogance of the authorities, a blow to politicians, who he regarded as a leisured class,” Burda added.

The lawyer stressed that his client, Dr Brunon K. (full name withheld under Polish privacy laws), a former lecturer at the Krakow Agricultural University, had authorised him to make such a statement.

The claims contradict those of public prosecutors who declared in November, shortly after Brunon K.'s arrest, that the suspect was a nationalist and anti-semite who felt that “the situation in the country was going in the wrong direction because all leading governmental positions were occupied by 'foreigners',” as cited by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

Yesterday, lawyer Maciej Burdas stated that his client's resentments were related to “taxes, dishonesty, unfulfilled election promises, and law-breaking.”

Meanwhile, prosecutors are still collecting evidence so as to attempt to try Brunon K on charges of terrorism, in addition of those related to the possession of weapons.

“We're still waiting for the opinions provided by specialists,” said Piotr Kosmaty, spokesman for the Appellate Prosecutor's Office in Krakow.

“Only specialist assessments will allow us to broaden the charges.”

Brunon K. was allegedly planning to drive a truck loaded with explosives into the lower house of parliament during a session when both the president and the prime minister were present.

He is currently being held at Krakow's Montelupi prison. (nh)

This article was updated at 1.30 CET, Thursday

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