Hungarian police

After DNA test, arrest warrant issued against Moldovan criminal

Moldovan criminal arrest warrant

An international arrest warrant has been issued for Tiganciuc Serghei, a Moldovan citizen suspected of causing an accident in the capital a week ago in which seven people were injured, the Budapest police (BRFK) said on Friday.

The warrant has been issued by a Budapest court for the 27-year-old suspect, on the basis of additional investigations that involved a DNA test, BRFK said on polie.hu. The accident had happened when the driver of an Audi S8 carried on driving when police tried to stop the car and, chased by police, collided with another car. The driver fled from the site. A European arrest warrant was back then issued for the Moldovan driver who was under deportation from Hungary on people smuggling charges at the time.

Moldovan human smuggler budapest accident (1)
Photo: Facebook/BRFK Budapesti Rendőr-főkapitányság

But later it was suspected that the accident might have been caused by the Moldovan man’s brother who had a similar appearance and the two might have regularly used each other’s identities.

Moldovan criminal arrest warrant
Tiganciuc Serghei. Photo: police.hu

We covered the accident in THIS article.

Read also:

  • Moldovan criminal injures 7 in Budapest car crash – read more HERE

Underage perpetrators of Budapest arson attack killing father of four may get harsher sentence – VIDEO

Underage perpetrators of Budapest arson attack killing father of four may get harsher sentence (Copy)

Prosecutors have appealed for a harsher sentence in the case of an arson attack at a dormitory in Budapest’s 9th district in 2019 that left one person dead.

The Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s Office in 2020 charged three young men as accomplices in the case with causing death resulting from public endangerment. On the evening of January 23, 2019, the three defendants, who were minors at the time, poured nail polish remover on a mattress placed against the entrance of the Ráday Street dormitory in Budapest’s 9th district and set it on fire with a lighter.

Underage perpetrators of Budapest arson attack killing father of four may get harsher sentence (Copy)
Firefighters in front of the dormitory. Source: PrtScr/Youtube

The flames spread to several floors in the building, resulting in the death of one person. Fifty people had to be evacuated from the dormitory. In a first-instance ruling last October, the Budapest Municipal Court found one of the three suspects guilty of public endangerment by way of negligence and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment suspended for four years. His two accomplices were sentenced to 240 and 280 hours of community service, respectively, for disorderly conduct.

The Appellate Chief Prosecutor of Budapest is asking the court to charge all three defendants with causing death resulting from public endangerment and sentence them to prison. The attorney representing the defendant who set the mattress on fire has appealed for a lighter sentence, while the other two defendants have accepted their sentences.

Here is a video made by the firefighters:

Read also:

  • Crime statistics: The most dangerous places in Hungary – read more HERE
  • Nigerian gang leader lived in luxury and lavished money in Budapest after scamming wealthy women – details in THIS article

Nigerian gang leader lived in luxury and lavished money in Budapest after scamming wealthy women

nigerian gang leader luxury budapest

On 8 January, Hungarian authorities arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian man in Budapest, suspected of being the leader of a fraudulent network that targeted wealthy women worldwide. The arrest follows earlier crackdowns by police in Hungary, where multiple members of the group were apprehended for their involvement in a series of scams.

The crime syndicate primarily operated through online dating platforms, where members sought to exploit middle-aged and elderly women. The scammers established false, caring personas to gain the trust of their victims, eventually fabricating emergency situations to ask for urgent financial assistance. According to police investigations, many victims were manipulated into sending substantial sums of money, with one victim losing up to HUF 70 million (EUR 170,000).

Despite the earlier arrests of several group members, including three foreign men and one Hungarian woman, the operation continued. Authorities soon identified the Nigerian man as one of the key figures in the ring. Much of the illicitly gained money was traced back to him, suggesting his central role in the operation. The suspect is believed to have lived a lavish lifestyle, wearing expensive clothing, financing luxurious travel, and spending large sums in Budapest’s nightlife.

Further investigation revealed that, at the suspect’s request, his girlfriend had opened a separate bank account to receive the proceeds from the scam. She has been charged with negligent money laundering but remains free while awaiting legal proceedings, the police reports. The Nigerian man is currently in police custody and has been formally charged with money laundering. The court has ordered his detention, and investigations continue into the full scope of the scam and its global reach.

Read also:

British fugitive wanted for drugs and firearms crimes captured in Budapest

british fugitive caught in budapest

A 33-year-old British man sought on an international arrest warrant on charges of drug abuse, and illegal use of firearms and ammunition, has been detained in Budapest by Hungarian police, the Budapest police headquarters (BRFK) said on Wednesday.

British authorities informed Hungarian authorities in September 2024 that the man was allegedly hiding in Hungary, using several fake names and frequently changing his place of residence, BRFK said on police.hu. The man was successfully tracked down and he was detained in Budapest on 7 January. Police seized from the man several international fake IDs showing his photograph with other persons’ details. Legal proceedings have been launched against the man also on charges of forging official documents.

Read also:

Moldovan criminal injures 7 in Budapest car crash

Moldovan human smuggler budapest accident (1)

According to an earlier statement from the police, a Moldovan man previously convicted of human smuggling caused a severe car accident in Budapest, injuring a seven-member family, including children, before fleeing the scene. The crash occurred on 5 January in Budapest’s XXII district, where the man ran a red light and collided with the family’s vehicle. However, later, the Budapest police clarified that the driver responsible for the accident was not the Moldovan human smuggler previously released under Hungary’s emergency regulations. Instead, the culprit was his brother, a 27-year-old Moldovan identified as T.S., who bears a striking resemblance to his sibling. The two brothers reportedly used each other’s documents interchangeably, further complicating identification

Human smuggler convicted but released

Previously, it was reported that the driver, identified as Tiganciuc Calin, had a history of human smuggling, including transporting five Nepali migrants illegally through Hungary in March 2024, Blikk reports. He was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison and banned from Hungary for nearly eight years. However, despite being excluded from parole eligibility, he was released under special reintegration rules. This policy, introduced by the Hungarian government, mandates that convicted human smugglers leave the country within 72 hours of their release.

Tiganciuc Calin Moldovan human smuggler accident
Tiganciuc Calin, currently in Moldova. Photo: Facebook/BRFK Budapesti Rendőr-főkapitányság

Later, during a press conference on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Krisztián Léránt of the Budapest Police Traffic Enforcement Department confirmed the new details. T.S., who is now the subject of an arrest warrant, is also suspected of involvement in other crimes. However, due to the ongoing investigation, no further information was disclosed. The previously expelled brother was confirmed to have been in Moldova at the time of the accident and remains there currently.

Moldovan smuggles brother
T.S., the brother of Tiganciuc Calin. Photo: police.hu

The tragic accident

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, when T.S., fleeing from the police in an Audi S8, ran a red light and collided with another car in Budapest’s XXII District. The fleeing driver abandoned the scene without checking on the victims. Tragically, the occupants of the other car—a family of seven, including children—suffered injuries, with two of them in serious condition. In their pursuit of the perpetrator, investigators discovered a key belonging to a hotel or Airbnb accommodation at the accident site, which may provide leads in the search for T.S.

Misreporting and official clarifications

Initial reports suggested that the driver was the human smuggler previously convicted and released due to emergency regulations. This individual had been involved in a human trafficking network smuggling migrants into Western Europe. However, police confirmed that the fugitive driver is not the same person. This revelation has shifted the focus of the investigation and raised questions about the brothers’ coordinated activities and use of falsified or shared documents to evade authorities.

Criticism from opposition

The case has drawn sharp political criticism. Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, accused the government of endangering public safety by releasing thousands of human smugglers from prison under its reintegration policy. He claimed the decision directly contributed to the tragic incident and called on the prime minister to take responsibility for the policy.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the crash and searching for the fugitive, while the victims, including children, are recovering from their injuries. The incident has intensified the debate over Hungary’s controversial reintegration policy for human smugglers.

Read also:

Southern Hungarian border crossings have fallen, waiting time about 2 hours

Hungarian border crossing to and from Serbia

The main border crossings from Serbia to Hungary fell to the crowds of Serbian and other Balkans nationals trying to travel back to Germany, Austria and other Western European countries following the end-of-year holidays. According to the Hungarian police, waiting time at the Röszke motorway border crossing reaches two hours, while at the Ásotthalom and Röszke road border crossings, it is one hour.

Lots of people from the Balkans try to get to Western and Central European destinations following the Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities. Therefore, long queues were formed at the main Hungarian Southern border crossings. Currently, it takes 2 hours to enter Hungary from Serbia at the Röszke motorway crossing point, while you have to wait at least one hour at the Ásotthalom and Röszke road crossing points.

Hungarian border crossing to and from Serbia
Illustration. Photo: FB/Hungarian Police

Main road border crossing closed to traffic yesterday

According to Délmagyar, a Szeged newspaper, due to the increased traffic, Hungarian authorities closed the outbound border crossing from Hungary to Serbia at the Röszke road crossing on Thursday afternoon. This is how they tried to increase the number of incoming lanes to Hungary and reduce waiting time.

The Hungarian police’s disclaimer about the data published on their website says that “the data were collected based on police experience and are for information purposes. The real waiting time can be changed depending on the citizenship of travellers, number of travellers, vehicles, police and other authority measures.”

Read also:

  • Attention! Hungary reintroduces Schengen border control on the entry side from this country
  • Historic moment: Border opens between Romania and Hungary

Thousands of illegal migrants apprehended by Hungarian authorities

The Hungarian authorities apprehended almost 16,000 illegal migrants and 132 people smugglers last year, the prime minister’s chief domestic security advisor said on Friday.

Though this figure is lower compared with previous years, it had still posed a serious challenge, György Bakondi told commercial broadcaster TV2.

The number of irregular migrants arriving in Europe along the Balkan route increased in 2024, Bakondi said, adding that thanks to the cooperation between the Hungarian and Serbian police forces, migrant activity shifted towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia during the year.

Meanwhile, he said predictions that problems stemming from illegal migration would continue unless the European Union changed its “ill-advised” migration policy had come true in 2024.

Read also:

  • Hungarian Government drastically tightens guest worker rules from 2025! – read more HERE
  • Hungary lowers guest worker cap, 10 countries on the banned list

Attention! Hungary reintroduces Schengen border control on the entry side from this country

Schengen border control Romania

Romania will become a full member of the Schengen area from 1 January 2025. This will change the rules for crossing the common border.

Schengen border control to be reintroduced

In line with the existing practice of several EU Member States, Hungary plans to temporarily reintroduce border control on the entry side, in accordance with the rules of the Schengen Borders Code, in order to prevent threats to public order and internal security in the Schengen area, police.hu wrote.

In practice, this means that, from 1 January 2025, crossing the state border will be easier and faster than before, but in some cases, entry rights may be checked. With regard to the Schengen rules, you can only enter the country at the following border crossing points and border crossings by vehicle categories authorised on public roads.

Schengen border control Romania
Photo: police.hu

Motorway border crossing points:

  • Nagykereki
  • Csanádpalota

Road border crossing points:

  • Csengersima
  • Vállaj
  • Nyírábrány
  • Létavértes
  • Ártánd
  • Méhkerék
  • Gyula
  • Battonya
  • Nagylak
  • Kiszombor

Rail border crossing points:

  • Tiborszállás (Ágerdőmajor)
  • Nyírábrány
  • Biharkeresztes
  • Kötegyán
  • Lőkösháza

Road connections (border crossings):

  • Garbolc–Bercu /Szárazberek/
  • Zajta–Peles /Nagypeleske/
  • Ömböly–Karulypuszta/
  • Bagamér–Voivozi /Érkenéz/
  • Pocsaj–Rosiori /Biharfélegyháza/
  • Körösnagyharsány–Cheresig /Körösszeg/
  • Gyula/Dénesmajor–Iermata Negră
  • Elek–Grăniceri /Ottlaka/
  • Dombegyház–Variasu Mic /Kisvarjas/
  • Csanádpalota–Nădlac /Felsőnagylak/
Schengen border control Romania
Photo: police.hu

Do not forget your documents

At the listed locations, the border can be crossed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is important to note, however, that travellers must still carry their documents with them and that police officers may carry out random checks to verify that they are legally present on the territory of the Member States.

To avoid accidents, travellers are asked to approach the border crossing points with increased attention, where they may encounter both Hungarian and Romanian authorities.

Read also:

New Church scandal sparks hope for reform in Hungary

Nun Church Religion

The leadership of the Hungarian Catholic Church has recently presented a divided picture in its handling of internal sex scandals and child protection cases. While some bishops have taken decisive steps to investigate such cases, some church statements still avoid clear apologies.

Bishop András Veres emphasised in a coldly worded statement that collective prayer and fasting were more important than empathy for the victims. At the same time, several bishops, such as Zsolt Marton and László Varga, have called for reform of the Church, with open apologies and an emphasis on the importance of prevention.

Nun Church Religion
Source: Pixabay

Details of a case in Balatonfüred

Recently, the case of a nun working at St Benedict High School in Balatonfüred exemplified the possibility of transparency and accountability in the Church. According to Válasz Online, the nun, who belonged to the monastic branch of the Community of the Eight Beatitudes, had worked at the institution for two years as a religious education teacher and child protection counsellor. Following the allegations against her, the Archabbey of Pannonhalma and the international leadership of the community took immediate action and launched an investigation.  

Around two dozen witnesses, including minors, were interviewed during the investigation. The findings suggest that while the nun probably did not commit a direct sexual offence, her behaviour crossed the boundaries of acceptable conduct in several areas. Emotional dependency, abuse of authority, and rule-breaking with students created a toxic atmosphere. For example, the nun bought cigarettes and alcohol for students and had a particularly close relationship with one boy, with whom she shared a tattoo.  

The procedure

The Benedictines and the Community of the Eight Beatitudes reacted with exemplary speed, bringing the matter to the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome and offering to cooperate with the secular justice system. Although the investigation is still ongoing, the nun has already been removed from her post, and her dismissal is being prepared. 

The way this case was handled stands as an outstanding example of how the Church should support victims of abuse. The Archabbey of Pannonhalma and the leadership of the community have prioritised not only exposing the wrongdoing but also supporting the children involved. In his statement, Archpriest Cyril T. Hortobágyi stressed that sincere apologies and accountability are essential to restoring trust.  

Broader implications 

The case highlights the need for Church organisations to have both the legal and spiritual frameworks required to handle such situations effectively. Pope Francis’ reforms, which focus on prevention and zero tolerance, provide an example that should be consistently applied in practice. The story of Balatonfüred has the potential to encourage the Church to adopt these principles consistently when dealing with both past and future cases.  

This case offers hope for change, not only to the victims of abuse but also to the faithful seeking a renewed Church. Transparency and accountability are not only moral obligations but also fundamental conditions for the Church’s long-term survival.  

Read also:

Don’t panic if you see more police officers in the Hungarian Christmas markets – UPDATE with PHOTOS

Police officers in Christmas fairs

According to the official website of the Hungarian Police, plainclothes police officers will flood Hungarian Christmas markets after the brutal car attack a 50-year-old doctor with Saudi origins committed at the Magdeburg Christmas fair. Prominent politicians of the Orbán cabinet continued to criticise Germany’s welcome culture during which millions of illegal migrants arrived in the country. FM Szijjártó talked about an atmosphere of fear in the European Christmas markets.

More Hungarian police officers in Christmas markets

According to police.hu, more plainclothes police officers will stand on duty in the Hungarian Christmas fairs following the brutal car attack a Saudi doctor carried out at the Magdeburg Christmas fair on Friday. The aim is to improve the subjective perception of safety and prevent crimes committed in public spaces. The increased police presence will affect not only the markets but also the downtown of Budapest, and bigger rural towns and the main roads leading to these settlements.

Budapest Advent Bazilika hungary news
Photo: depositphotos.com

Furthermore, visitors may see physical obstacles around the Christmas markets, increasing safety and preventing similar attacks. Police ask everybody to pay attention to their valuables and follow their instructions for everybody’s sake.

Police officers in Christmas fairs
Photo: MTI
Police officers in Christmas fairs
Photo: MTI
Police officers in Christmas fairs
Photo: MTI

Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre increases presence

According to 444.hu, units of Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) are also present in the Budapest and rural Christmas fairs, especially at the Vörösmarty Square Christmas Fair and the Advent Bazilika. Both Christmas markets were chosen as Europe’s best ones. TEK said they would like to reduce their reaction time and improve the participants’ sense of safety by being present in and in close proximity to the Christmas fairs.

According to Délmagyar, the organisers of the Szeged Christmas fair also increased security after the Magdeburg attack. For example, they closed the great gate connecting the Dóm Square with the Aradi vértanúk Square, which might be used for a similar attack against the large crowds gathering to celebrate the Advent period in front of the Szeged Basilica. Of course, pedestrians can continue to use the side gates.

Hungarian politicians’ remarks

PM Orbán talked about the Magdeburg attack in his annual international press conference, saying that Brussels (the European Commission) wanted to “turn Hungary into Magdeburg”, and force risky migration regulations on the country, which “must not be allowed”. He added there was “no doubt” of a connection between illegal migration and terrorist acts but many had tried to deny this, “even though it is a fact that nothing like [such attacks] had happened before” Europe’s migration crisis.

Police officers in Christmas fairs
Photo: MTI

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó talked about the attack as “shocking and unacceptable” and highlighted that fear has become a “common feeling” among those who visit Christmas markets in Europe today.

Photo: FB/Advent Bazilika

Magdeburg attack commited by Saudi doctor

9 people, including a 9-year-old kid, died in the Magdeburg terrorist attack on Friday while more than 200 people were injured.

The main suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, named Taleb al-Abdulmohsen by the local media, arrived in Germany in 2006 and worked as a psychiatrist. German authorities granted him asylum in 2016. “He ran a website that aimed to help other former Muslims flee persecution in their Gulf homelands”, BBC wrote about him. Saudi authorities said they had sent four “Notes Verbal” about the perpetrator, but German authorities ignored them. Experienced counter-terrorism experts believe that is just part of a Saudi disinformation campaign to discredit people trying to help flee Saudi women and seek asylum in Germany. According to reports, the man “considered himself the most aggressive critic of Islam”.

Read also:

  • Young people planning armed attacks against protected persons in Hungary – US intelligence warns
  • UN Counter-Terrorism Office in Budapest to expand Hungarian staff under new agreement

Spending New Year’s Eve in Budapest? Fireworks will be banned in touristy district – MAP

Last year’s New Year’s Eve in Budapest highlighted the dangers of uncontrolled fireworks, with chaotic scenes at Vörösmarty Square leading to injuries and public outcry. In response, District 5 has introduced a strict ban on pyrotechnic devices in high-traffic areas, aiming to ensure safer celebrations this year.

Last year’s dangerous celebrations

As we have reported HERE, last year’s New Year’s Eve in Budapest turned dangerous as uncontrolled fireworks in Vörösmarty Square caused chaos and injuries among the celebrating crowds. Footage aired by RTL showed fireworks launched in a cordoned-off area without oversight, leading to accidents where fireworks landed in the crowd. One woman suffered burns to her hand and had her coat catch fire. The lack of regulation and authority control over pyrotechnic use has raised serious safety concerns, prompting Alex Gábor Kovács, leader of Tiéd a Belváros, to call for stricter rules on the sale and use of fireworks to prevent such incidents in the future.

A safer New Year’s Eve in Budapest

As HVG reports, Budapest’s District 5 has introduced a strict ban on pyrotechnic devices in high-traffic areas for New Year’s Eve, with fines of up to HUF 200,000 (EUR 488.77) for violators. Key locations such as Vörösmarty Square, Erzsébet Square, and St. Stephen’s Square in front of the Basilica will be firework-free zones. The decree, passed unanimously by the district’s representative body, also extends to other busy areas in the city centre, aiming to ensure safety during the festive period.

New Year's Eve in Budapest fireworks Parliament
Photo: depositphotos.com

The affected areas

The decision comes after last year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations saw fireworks dangerously exploding among crowds in downtown Budapest, prompting public outcry. The ban, initially proposed by opposition leader Alex Gábor Kovács, was formalised by the district’s Fidesz mayor, Péter Szentgyörgyvölgyi. The new rules prohibit the use of fireworks in categories 1, 2, and 3 within the designated areas from 6 PM on 28 December to 6 AM on 1 January, with stricter enforcement planned in collaboration with the Budapest Police Headquarters. Here is a map of the affected areas:

Budapest firework ban map
Photo: Nemzeti Jogszabálytár

Firecrackers remain prohibited

While the ban only applies to District 5, firecrackers are still permitted in other parts of Hungary under existing national laws. Firecrackers remain prohibited nationwide year-round, with penalties reaching HUF 150,000 (EUR 366.58) for violations. Unused or defective third-category fireworks must be returned to distributors within five days after New Year’s Eve. These measures aim to balance festive celebrations with public safety, marking a significant change in the celebration of New Year’s Eve in Budapest.

Read also:

Featured image: depositphotos.com

What is wrong with Hungarian legislation? 11-year-old Tamás Till’s killer might walk free

The long-unsolved murder of Tamás Till, who disappeared 24 years ago, has taken a significant turn with the confession of János F., now 40. Despite his admission, legal complexities regarding his age at the time of the crime raise questions about his liability. Prosecutors argue that the statute of limitations for aggravated homicide has not expired, sparking hopes for a conviction. As the case unfolds, the Till family seeks justice amid ongoing legal uncertainties.

The tragic case of Tamás Till

As we reported HERE, the long-standing mystery surrounding the murder of Tamás Till, a Hungarian boy who disappeared 24 years ago at the age of 11, has finally been resolved. The Bács-Kiskun County Police announced that the killer, identified as János F., was just 16 years old at the time of the crime. Tamás’s remains were discovered this summer, buried in cement on a farm in Baja, revealing fractures in his ribs, skull, and spine. Following extensive investigations, including interviews with over 40 witnesses, János F. confessed to the murder during a re-interrogation on 28 November.

He admitted to luring Tamás Till to the farm under false pretences and attacking him without reason. Despite his confession, János F.’s criminal liability had expired due to his age at the time of the offence, allowing him to leave freely after questioning. The case, which had remained one of Hungary’s most high-profile unsolved crimes since Tamás’s disappearance in May 2000, involved numerous false leads and tragic developments, including the suicides of key figures linked to the case.

Tamás Till
Photo: Youtube / Random

Possible motive behind the gruesome murder?

As Infostart writes, legal representatives suggest that sexual motives may have driven the murder. However, the exact motive remains unclear since János F. did not disclose it during his confession. The lawyer representing the Till family argued that the nature of the crime—marked by brutality and a lack of apparent motive—points towards sexual motivation, as there was no history between the victim and the accused.

The legal proceedings are complicated by questions regarding the statute of limitations for aggravated homicide, with prosecutors asserting that it has not expired despite János F. being a juvenile at the time of the crime. This situation raises concerns about how he will be held accountable in court, particularly given that he will be tried under juvenile sentencing practices despite being 40 years old now. Tamás’s mother expressed her hope that this development might bring some accountability after years of grief, stating, “Maybe it’s better now that this perpetrator (…) can be convicted.”

missing boy's remains found after 24 years
Source: Facebook / Magyar Rendőrség

The prosecution’s view

On 12 December, the Prosecution Service of Hungary shared in a statement that the prosecution’s position is that in the case of non-expiring crimes, the calculation of the statute of limitations is conceptually excluded. In the ongoing criminal proceedings concerning the aggravated murder of Tamás Till, committed on 28 May 2000, the public prosecutor’s office has concluded—based on the interpretation of laws applicable at the time of the crime and those currently in force—that for non-expiring crimes, such as aggravated murder, the statute of limitations cannot be applied.

Consequently, if someone commits aggravated murder as a minor, it cannot expire in the same way as if an adult committed it. For these reasons, the Bács-Kiskun County Prosecutor’s Office, which oversees legality, has called upon the investigative authority to apprehend and interrogate the individual suspected of committing the crime. According to the newest information on the case, the Bács-Kiskun County Prosecutor’s Office has requested the arrest of a man suspected of murdering Tamás Till.

Read also:

Scuffle at Budapest Airport: police officers forced passengers down from Wizz Air plane

A scuffle broke out at Budapest Airport after some passengers refused to pay extra for their oversized baggage. As we covered in a previous article, Wizz Air takes baggage sizes more seriously again, but the passengers disregarded the staff’s warnings and boarded the plane. Police arrived to solve the situation, and the plane could take off only with a delay.

The scuffle started at Budapest Airport due to oversized baggage.

According to Telex, the reason was the oversized bags of some passengers, which ground handling partner Menzies Aviation refused to approve. However, some passengers of the Budapest-Basel flight did not want to pay the extra charge for their luggage. A scuffle broke out, and the passengers boarded the plane without permission.

Finally, the jet crew forced them down with the help of police officers. However, the plane could only take off with a delay due to the incident, but, thankfully, they arrived in the Swiss town later on Saturday.

Budapest Airport told Telex that Menzies Aviation asked for the help of the police and promised to examine the circumstances with the ground handling service provider.

Hungarian police Budapest Airport Wizz Air scuffle (Copy)
Photo: FB/Budapest Airport

Police do not investigate

The Hungarian police wrote that they had to intervene on Saturday morning because of an argument between employees of the ground handling company and some passengers. They said passengers cooperated with the officers and the crew, and neither of the two sides wanted to press charges. They wrote that there were no ongoing police investigations concerning the issue.

Two readers of Telex wrote that one employee of Menzies Aviation behaved aggressively against a passenger, but it seems nobody wanted to report that to the police.

Telex has not yet received a comment from Menzies.

Read also:

The ‘Butcher of Csantavér’ revealed who stabbed a Hungarian mother 70 times in Amsterdam

The mother of a 2-month-old infant was killed in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, and the Dutch authorities made a last attempt in November to reveal the identity of the murderer. They created the life-size hologram of the 19-year-old woman reaching out for help. It seems it rang a bell in the prison of Szeged where Csaba Dér, the butcher of Csantavér, wrote to the Dutch authorities that he knew the murderer of the young Hungarian woman working as a prostitute in Amsterdam until the terrible night of 19 February 2009. Read more about the bloodcurdling details in our article below.

The butcher of Csantavér, Csaba Dér, remembers

We detailed HERE how the Dutch police would like to solve a 15-year-old mystery case involving the brutal murder of a Hungarian prostitute. In a desperate move, they created the life-size hologram of Bernadett Szabó (Betty), being only 19 when her life was violently ended with 70 stabs.

Life size hologram Betty Szabó Netherlands murder
The life-size hologram of Betty Szabó asking for help. Photo: FB/Politie Eenheid Amsterdam

Dutch authorities hoped somebody would remember something helpful to find the murderer and solve the case. They also offered a EUR 30,000 reward. And it seems they were successful.

Csaba Dér, the butcher of Csantavér, serving his life sentence in the Szeged prison, wrote an 11-page-long letter to the Dutch authorities revealing the details. His lawyer told Blikk that, in the letter, he named the perpetrator.

According to Telex, he wrote he executed the perpetrator, a Croatian gangster, whom he shot in a local restaurant. Based on Mr Dér’s lawyer, Krisztián Gulyás, he did so to protect his life as a preventive action. But he already knew by then that the man had murdered a woman. He learned that information from an arms dealer from whom he bought his pistol before the homicide.

The Croatian gangster killed the woman with 70 stabs

Mr Dér got a life sentence for executing a Dutch man in the Netherlands in 2018 with a headshot and a Hungarian drug dealer in Budapest later.

Csaba Dér in Amsterdam:

Telex wrote he would offer the award of the Dutch authorities to charity, but he wanted to negotiate with them. He said Betty’s murderer was a ladykiller who all feared in Amsterdam back then. He liked to torture and beat women. He was very violent with women, humiliated sex workers, and probably killed the Hungarian woman because she asked him to behave.

Csaba Dér was put together with the murderer of a 36-year-old mother, whom he killed while jogging in Soroksár in 2013. Dér beat Szilveszter Rakovec in the cell for what he did. Dér’s lawyer said he could not bear femicide and people who killed women.

The first page of his testimony claiming he cannot stand people who killed women, children:

Read also:

  • 24-year-old murder solved: Identity of little Hungarian boy Tamás Till’s killer revealed
  • Irish man’s arrest in American woman’s murder case extended by three months

German tourist paid a shocking fee in Hungarian hospital for VIP care – MP pressed charges

The Uzsoki Hospital is in Budapest’s 14th district, Zugló, represented by Ákos Hadházy, a well-known Hungarian anti-corruption politician, in the Hungarian National Assembly. Mr Hadházy shared documents that a German tourist had to pay EUR 1,650 for VIP care in July in the hospital, a fee higher than what German private hospitals demand for similar treatment and examination. He suspects fraud, so he pressed charges against the healthcare institution, which no longer communicates with him.

German tourist chose VIP care instead of waiting for hours

Mr Hadházy shared the details of the suspicious issue on his official Facebook page. The MP of Zugló wrote that a German tourist, being in Budapest with her husband on a boat trip, struggled with high blood pressure and headache. Therefore, an ambulance doctor recommended that she should visit the Uzsoki Hospital. There, the employees offered them two options. The tourists could wait 6-8 hours to get proper medical help or pay for VIP care. They chose the latter, and the doctor made a head CT and X-ray on the woman, Hadházy cleared.

First, the hospital wanted them to pay in cash on the spot without getting an invoice. However, the husband refused to do so. Later, they got an invoice via email, so they paid the EUR 1,650 examination fee. However, the insurance company of the German couple refused to reimburse the costs because the invoice did not detail what examinations the doctor conducted.

VIP care unit of the Uzsoki Hospital
The VIP unit of the Uzsoki Hospital. A good place to get better. Photo: FB/Hadházy

A Hungarian doctor friend of the couple living in Germany tried to help, but the hospital told her that they never issue euro invoices. That is when the issue became problematic.

Uzsoki Hospital is more expensive than German hospitals

Since the Hungarian friend could not get any details from the hospital, the couple turned to them and asked for a detailed invoice, which they received. It came to light that the Uzsoki Hospital’s VIP costs were multiple times higher than those of the private medical institutions in Germany. According to Szeretlek Magyarország, in Germany, the maximum cost of the service would have been EUR 1,000.f

The events took place in July. Since then, the hospital told Hadházy that the doctors and nurses of the hospital work at the VIP unit, but beyond their work time. Therefore, patients do not pay for the hospital but for private service providers. The service provider in contract with the organiser of the German couple’s boat trip was Smart Hospital Ltd, so the invoice was issued by them.

The VIP unit at the Uzsoki Hospital
The VIP unit is to the right. Photo: FB/Hadházy

That company is in the ownership of a Hévíz Fidesz councillor, János Gelencsér. Hévíz is a charming small town near Lake Balaton, known for the many Russian tourists who visited it before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hadházy believes the head CT and the X-ray were made using hospital equipment because such devices are unavailable at the VIP unit. Therefore, he suspects fraud and reported the issue to the police.

The invoice and the detailed bill
The invoice (l) and the details of the examination (r). Shockingly high prices. Photo: FB/Hadházy

The hospital did not even try to reveal the circumstances

Hadházy criticised the hospital’s fairness since the institution failed to reveal the circumstances during an internal inquiry.

In another case, a Hungarian citizen received a date for knee replacement surgery in the Uzsoki Hospital for 2026. But after he paid HUF 2 million (EUR 4,883) to the doctor, he did the surgery at the “VIP unit”.

Hadházy slammed the process, saying that ordinary people must wait hours and sometimes even years for examination, treatment or surgery, while others can buy extra services for money. He believes that, in general, it is not the doctors or nurses who should be blamed for that business. Hadházy says the Hungarian government intentionally underfinances the sector, so hospitals must be creative to gain money.

Read also:

Hungarian interior minister wants stricter border control, offers help

Interior Minister Sándor Pintér highlighted the importance of the protection of the external borders of the European Union and of in-depth controls within the bloc, at a press conference held after a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Brussels on Thursday.

At a press conference held on Thursday evening together with Magnus Brunner, the commissioner for internal affairs and migration, Pintér said that it was of “historic” importance that the Schengen integration process of Bulgaria and Romania had been completed, “after negotiations spanning almost a decade”.

Their integration into the Schengen Area was the most important achievement of the Hungarian EU presidency, he said.

After the decision, the meeting reviewed the inter-operability of IT systems with the Schengen Area’s associated members, especially in view of a planned border registration system, Pintér said.

Hungarian interior minister Pintér and Magnus Brunner
Photo: MTI

Although the full-scale introduction of the automatic IT system for registering the border crossings of third country citizens is being delayed, the JHA reiterated its commitment to set up a schedule to minimise the damage caused, he said. “The goal is to finish [work on] interoperability by 2027.”

The council also pledged to reinforce Greece’s borders with Türkiye and Bulgaria, as well as the stretch between Bulgaria and Türkiye. The latter will receive a contingent of over 100 Hungarian, Romanian and Austrian troops, he added.

Besides border protection, controls will be strengthened within the EU too. Hungary will maintain “secondary border control” on its Romanian border until June 30, just as Austria does on its Hungarian border, he added.

Fake asylum seekers have no place in Hungary, the interior minister said

Asked whether Hungary could request to suspend granting asylum requests similarly to other EU member states, Pintér noted that Hungary has no joint borders with Belarus or Russia as Poland and other countries do, that pointed to a threat of hybrid warfare.

Meanwhile, Hungary’s borders remain open to Ukrainian refugees, he said. “Those coming from other countries on the old Silk Road will continue to be turned away, and if they do get in, there is no way they will be granted asylum without unequivocal proof of persecution,” Pintér said.

“We accept real refugees, but fake asylum seekers have no place in Hungary,” he said.

The ministers also tabled legislation proposal on the fight against the sexual abuse of children, “but we couldn’t achieve results there. I hope that the Polish presidency will be more successful on that topic, as it is about our future, our children,” he said.

The council also discussed opportunities for cooperation with third countries on migration challenges, he said. They also reviewed semi-annual reports of European security and intelligence agencies, including that of the Hungarian anti-terrorism and constitutional protection offices, he said.

They then adopted strategic directives, and the council’s priorities in domestic and judicial cooperation in the new cycle, “an outstanding achievement for the Hungarian presidency and the council itself, as it was the first such document adopted in a decade,” he said.

Read also:

  • Schengen enlargement: No border controls between Transylvania and Hungary from 1 January – read more HERE
  • Slovenia tightens border controls with Hungary and Croatia

American man found in Syrian prison after going missing in Budapest

An American man who went missing in Budapest earlier this year has been found in Syria after months of imprisonment. Travis Pete Timmerman, 29, was detained after entering Syria on a spiritual pilgrimage without permission and was discovered walking barefoot in Damascus following a mass release of detainees.

American man went missing in Budapest

As CNN reports, Travis Pete Timmerman, a 29-year-old man, was reported missing in June 2024. Hungarian police identified him in a bulletin as “Travis Pete Timmerman,” stating he was last seen at a church in Budapest‘s District 2, while a separate notice from the Missouri State Highway Patrol listed him as Pete Timmerman, with his last known contact occurring in Budapest on 2 June 2024. Timmerman previously worked for the Chicago-based Goldberg Law Group between 2020 and 2021, where Managing Partner Michael Goldberg described him as a “super nice guy” and “pretty smart.”

Travis Pete Timmerman American man went missing in Budapest, found in Syrian prison
Photo: police.hu

Missing man found in Syria

The missing American man, Travis Timmerman, has been found in Syria after months of imprisonment. Timmerman, who entered the country on a spiritual pilgrimage without permission, was detained in a Syrian prison after crossing the border from Lebanon. He was discovered walking barefoot in southern Damascus following a large-scale release of detainees this week, sparked by the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad. Speaking to CBS News, the American man recounted his experience, describing the conditions as tolerable, though he was restricted in his movements. His cell door was reportedly broken open by armed men on Monday, prompting his escape with a group heading toward Jordan.

Repatriation in progress

The Syrian government has confirmed the American man’s release, and US officials are working to repatriate him. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated efforts are underway to bring Timmerman home but withheld specific details. The discovery comes amid ongoing searches for Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria since 2012. The interim Syrian government reaffirmed its commitment to finding Tice, with officials stating that the search continues.

Read also:

24-year-old murder solved: Identity of little Hungarian boy Tamás Till’s killer revealed

The police have finally solved the 24-year-old mystery surrounding the murder of Tamás Till, revealing that the killer was 16 years old at the time of the crime, announced Gyula Bogdány, Deputy Head of the Criminal Division at the Bács-Kiskun County Police Headquarters. Till, who disappeared 24 years ago, at the age of 11, was found dead this past summer, buried in cement on a farm in Baja. Experts discovered fractures in the ribs, skull, and spine of the skeletal remains.

Since the summer, the police have questioned over 40 people as witnesses and worked with numerous experts. The breakthrough came when János F., a former suspect, confessed to the crime. János F. came under suspicion after it was revealed that he had coerced several witnesses into giving false testimony, 444.hu reported.

Tamás Till’s murderer confessed

The police re-interrogated János F. for the fourth time on 28 November, and he finally admitted to killing Tamás Till and provided a detailed confession. According to his account, on the day of the murder, he met Tamás Till, a boy he didn’t know, on a nearby industrial road, and invited him to the farm under the pretence of needing help.

Once there, János F. attacked the unsuspecting boy without any apparent reason and killed him with a cramp iron.

He later hid the body in a storage building, covered it with a tarp, and buried it, knowing that the area would soon be paved over by József V., the farm’s owner. He discarded the boy’s bike in the overgrown back part of the property, where it was found by a neighbour in July and later confirmed by the police in September.

When József V. returned to the farm, he reprimanded János F. for not progressing with the work, but he never discovered the murder.

On the following Sunday, József V. and another colleague poured cement over the floor, unaware of what lay beneath.

János F., now a 40-year-old family man and entrepreneur in Budapest, never revealed the details of the crime until his confession.

Despite his age at the time, János F.’s criminal liability had expired in 2015, meaning he could only be questioned as a witness and was allowed to leave freely after his interrogation.

High-profile unsolved crime

The murder of Tamás Till had remained one of the most high-profile unsolved crimes in Hungary for 24 years. On 28 May 2000, Till, then a young boy at the age of 11, disappeared while riding his bike to a nearby wildlife park. His bicycle was found three months later, carefully cleaned and placed against a fence.

The breakthrough in the case came this summer when authorities learned that a former resident of a local orphanage, K., had been involved in hiding a child’s body in 2000 under duress. The body was later found under the concrete floor of a building on the farm. DNA testing confirmed the identity as Tamás Till.

The investigation was complicated by the fact that K. committed suicide in 2011, and József V. took his own life in 2021. János F. had previously made statements about the case, but they were inconsistent with his later confession.

Over the years, many false leads emerged, including an anonymous caller who claimed to have seen Till at a train station a year after his disappearance, insisting the boy was alive and knew where he was. The police repeatedly revisited the case, but it wasn’t until this summer that new information led to the breakthrough, 444.hu wrote.

Tamás Till was laid to rest on 5 December, in a white coffin.

Read also:

Featured image: depositphotos.com