Stone Attack on Journalists on Vir: Cameraman Sustains Head Injuries, Two Slovaks Arrested
Ivan Krznarić and David Šimičić were targeted by a group while reporting on sealed properties; police responded swiftly and detained the suspects.
Ivan Krznarić and David Šimičić were targeted by a group while reporting on sealed properties; police responded swiftly and detained the suspects.
On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at exactly 10:30 AM, on the island of Vir, two Slovak nationals, aged 64 and 20, attacked a Nova TV crew. Journalist Ivan Krznarić (30) and cameraman David Šimičić (40) were on the ground to prepare a segment for Nova TV's main evening news about apartments previously closed by the Tourism Inspectorate of the State Inspectorate. During filming, the suspects verbally and physically assaulted them, attempting to prevent them from doing their job.
As reported by Index.hr, the attackers threw stones at the crew and struck the cameraman on the head. Šimičić sustained minor injuries, and emergency medical services were called to the scene. Journalist Krznarić noted that more than two individuals were involved in the incident, although only two were arrested.
Later that same day, in cooperation with the Ličko-Senjska Police Department, the suspects were arrested. The following day, Wednesday, July 29, they were handed over to the detention supervisor of the Zadar Police Department. A criminal complaint was filed against them with the competent State Attorney's Office in Zadar for the criminal offense of coercion against a person performing duties of public interest.
The Zadar Police Department emphasized that the Protocol on Police Action upon Learning of a Criminal Offense Committed Against Journalists and Other Media Workers was applied in this case. This document was previously signed by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Journalists' Association (CJA), and the Croatian Journalists' Union.
"We emphasize that in this case, the police acted in accordance with the Protocol on Police Action upon Learning of a Criminal Offense Committed Against Journalists and Other Media Workers in the Performance of Their Duties, which the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia signed with the Croatian Journalists' Association and the Croatian Journalists' Union," the police stated, as reported by Dnevnik.hr.
The Croatian Journalists' Association strongly condemned the attack and demanded the harshest penalties for the perpetrators. In a statement reported by Index.hr, they said: "Attacks on journalists and cameramen represent a serious blow to media freedom and the public's right to be informed. We welcome the police arrest of the attackers and demand the harshest sanctions for the perpetrators. Such attacks must not go unpunished."
The CJA also recalled the brutal attack on the Nova TV team of the show 'Provjereno' that occurred in early May 2026, warning of a worrying trend of frequent attacks on media workers in Croatia.
