Policeman reported shot dead in Hungary – The latest details, VIDEOS

Budapest (MTI) – A Hungarian policeman was shot dead with a machine gun early on Wednesday while police were preparing to conduct a house search in the village of Bőny, in north-western Hungary, law enforcement officials have confirmed.

The suspect in the case is a 76-year-old man, contrary to earlier reports stating his age as 74. He is being treated in hospital after he was injured by shots himself, János Hajdu, head of counter-terrorism force TEK, told a press conference. TEK was called to the site just after 8am, answering a call reporting that police officers had been wounded in gunfire.

When the counter-terror agents arrived they started negotiations with the armed man, who had locked himself inside the house. The suspect had by then been injured and soon was disarmed without any use of force, Hajdu said.

According to press reports, police had sought to carry out a search of the man’s property because it was suspected that he had kept illegal firearms. Local media have identified the suspect as István Györkös, one of the founders of a far-right organisation. It is reported that he received a suspended prison sentence in the 1990s for spreading Nazi-type propaganda.

Municipal prosecutor Imre Keresztes told the same press conference that the prosecution would release details of his background at a later time, adding that an official investigation had been launched in the case. Police are still investigating the crime scene and questioning witnesses, he said. Keresztes said the suspect had already fired some shots before police had managed to enter the house.

Police chief Károly Papp said the victim, 46-year-old Péter Pálvölgyi, had been serving as a police officer for 25 years. He has been declared a hero and promoted to the ranks of lieutenant-colonel.