Of course, the dangerous event did not happen in Hungary because, in our country, the highest speed trains can reach is 160 km/h between Budapest and Győr. The Hungarian 40-year-old travelled on a German high-speed train and miraculously survived the daredevil ride without being harmed, but he needed helpful people who alerted the police and authorities.
Hungarian man travelled between carriages
According to BBC, the Hungarian national boarded the ICE train carrying passengers between Munich and Lübeck in just 6 hours in the Bavarian capital on Thursday. He did not have a ticket but decided to take a smoking break in Ingolstadt. However, he lingered too long over his cigarette, and the train doors closed. Since he did not want to remain stranded at the station, he jumped onto a bracket between two carriages and held on to cables.
The train accelerated to 282 km/h and powered on to Nuremberg, but the Hungarian man was lucky. People saw him at the station and informed the police and authorities, who managed to establish contact with the train driver. He brought it to a halt after 30km at Kinding in Upper Bavaria.
He did not want to lose his luggage
As an explanation, the Hungarian man told police he left his luggage on the train and did not want to lose it. Thankfully, he was not injured during the devilish ride. “A police officer from the state police who happened to be travelling with the train found the 40-year-old Hungarian ‘passenger’ and brought him on to the train”, a police spokesman said.
He was handed over to federal police in Nuremberg and is expected to face charges for “an act disruptive to operations”, considered to be a severe administrative breach. According to Telex, he was also fined for travelling without a valid ticket. At the beginning of THIS article, you can see a photo of where the man travelled for 30 kilometres. It is mind-blowing to take a look and imagine his journey.
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The disappearance of 32-year-old twin sisters, Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, in Aberdeen, Scotland, continues to baffle authorities and family members as the search extends into its second week. The sisters were last seen on 7 January, around 2:12 AM, captured on surveillance cameras crossing Victoria Bridge and heading toward a riverside path along the River Dee. Despite extensive search efforts involving police dogs, marine units, and specialized advisors, their whereabouts remain unknown.
Last known movements
Surveillance footage shows the twins turning onto a slippery and steep path near Aberdeen Boat Club. Given the icy conditions, authorities speculate they may have accidentally fallen into the river, Blikk writes. However, this is only one of several theories being explored. According to The Scottish Sun, residents nearby reported hearing screams from the area around the time the sisters were last seen, though police have not confirmed any connection to the case.
A sudden move
Adding to the mystery, the sisters terminated the lease on their rented apartment just one day before their disappearance. According to their brother József, the family was unaware of this decision. Their mother had spoken with them three days earlier, and nothing indicated such plans, Blikk writes. József emphasised that the sisters appeared settled in Aberdeen, having furnished their home and maintained financial stability.
No signs of foul play
Scottish police have stated that there is currently no evidence of criminal activity or third-party involvement. Instead, investigators are focusing on environmental factors and potential accidents. They are reviewing security footage from nearby businesses and interviewing anyone who may have had contact with the sisters prior to their disappearance.
Family’s plea
The Huszti family remains in close communication with the police and has urged the public not to spread misleading information. “This is an incredibly distressing time for us,” József shared. “We just want Eliza and Henrietta to be found.” Eliza worked as a hotel housekeeper, while Henrietta was employed at a local café. They had lived in Aberdeen for several years and were described as well-integrated members of the community. Authorities and family members continue to appeal for anyone with information about the twins’ whereabouts to come forward as the search intensifies.
Scottish police are searching for 32-year-old Hungarian twins, Henrietta and Eliza, who vanished near Aberdeen’s River Dee early Tuesday. CCTV shows them walking calmly along a riverside path, but freezing conditions have raised serious safety concerns as the search intensifies.
The mysterious disappearance of the Hungarian twins
As Blikk writes, Scottish authorities are baffled by the mysterious disappearance of 32-year-old Hungarian twins, Henrietta and Eliza, who vanished near the River Dee in Aberdeen, Scotland’s third-largest city, early Tuesday morning. The sisters, who have lived in Aberdeen city centre for six years while working at a café, had recently spoken to their family in Hungary, showing no signs of distress. Search efforts initially focused on the frozen central section of the River Dee but have since expanded to include Aberdeen’s icy coastline.
Police have released CCTV footage showing the twins walking together on Market Street near Victoria Bridge shortly after 2 AM, appearing calm and untroubled. The footage captures them crossing the bridge and heading along the riverside path towards Aberdeen Boat Club, but no further trace of the sisters has been found.
Major police search operation
A major search operation is underway for the missing Hungarian twins, Henriett and Eliza, last seen near the River Dee in Aberdeen. Police Scotland, supported by a helicopter, search dogs, marines, and other emergency services, is scouring the area from Duthie Park to the river’s confluence with the North Sea. With freezing conditions and large ice sheets on the river, authorities have expressed serious concerns for the sisters’ safety. Divers have already searched sections of the river where they were last seen, but hopes are dwindling as the twins remain out of contact, a highly unusual situation for the pair.
Their family is worried
The family of the missing Hungarian twins, Henriett and Eliza, remains deeply concerned as the search continues. Their brother, József H., living in Budapest, has urged respect for the family’s privacy and discouraged the spread of false information. Their sister, Edit H., described them as close and sociable but often enjoying quiet time at home. Chief Inspector Darren Bruce confirmed that Police Scotland is dedicating significant resources to the investigation and appealed to the public and businesses to share any useful information or CCTV footage, as efforts intensify to locate the sisters.
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.
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.
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.
Police Scotland is conducting an extensive search for Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, 32-year-old Hungarian twin sisters who have been missing in Aberdeen since the early hours of 7 January.
The sisters, who have lived in Aberdeen for six years, were last seen at 2:12 AM near Victoria Bridge on Market Street, BBC reports. They were observed crossing the bridge and heading onto a footpath along the River Dee toward the Aberdeen Boat Club. Search efforts include the use of police dogs and marine units, while officers have appealed to businesses in the South Esplanade and Menzies Road areas to review CCTV and dashcam footage from the early hours of 7 January.
Both sisters are described as white, slim, with long brown hair. Chief Inspector Darren Bruce stated, “We urge anyone who has seen Eliza or Henrietta or has information about their whereabouts to contact Police Scotland at 101, quoting incident number 0735 of 7 January 2025.” The Hungarian authorities have also been informed, and efforts to locate the twins continue in collaboration with local and international agencies.
A Hungarian woman, Mariann Böröcz (55), went missing earlier this month. Authorities started to search for her on 14 December. Thanks to the help of the locals, the Hungarian woman’s dead body was found in Christopher Barlow’s home, who refused to confess. Based on a court decision, he will remain in detention for at least six months until authorities can conclude their investigation. The 61-year-old is the police’s main suspect. Sexual reasons are suspected to be behind the murder.
Hungarian woman killed in the UK
Detective Chief Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer Tony Platten from Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team said; “On behalf of the entire investigation team, our condolences remain with Mariann’s family as they try to come to terms with her death. Our investigation is moving at pace, and we are continuing to work hard to build a full timeline of events leading up to Mariann’s death. As part of our investigation, we are once again appealing for additional information from the local community.”
Blikk wrote that locals helped the policea lot in the issue because they felt the Hungarian woman did not disappear due to a party or similar reasons.
According to the police, Barlow of Pedder Street is being charged with the horrific murder. The Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court decided on a Boxing Day session to keep him in detention for at least 6 months until the authorities can conclude their investigation successfully. According to Blikk, the main suspect has not yet given a detailed confession.
Mariann knew little English
Mariann had been working as a janitor in Bolton for five years but knew little English. Her disappearance was reported by the owner of a local motel where the Hungarian woman lived and worked.
Police categorised her disappearance as “high-risk” and started a thorough investigation, during which they learned that an apartment nearby was rented by a man imprisoned before for sexual harassment and rape attempt.
The woman’s body was found in Christopher Barlow’s apartment on 23 December. The investigation found that she was strangled. Barlow refused to tell the police why the woman’s body was found in his rented apartment.
The 6th most crime-ridden UK city
According to Blikk, the murder shocked Bolton, which is the 6th most crime-ridden settlement in the United Kingdom. Around 2,000-2,500 Hungarian nationals live in the city, which is regarded as the third biggest Hungarian community outside London, after Bristol and Edinburgh.
Szilvia Cs., a Hungarian national living and working in the city, told Blikk that there are multiple attacks and thefts. Furthermore, many of its residents visibly struggle with mental illnesses. Due to the robberies, even owners of the smallest shops install CCTV cameras. The last image of Mariann was taken of her in one of those shops.
The main suspect, Mr Barlow has been living in the city for 10 years. Most of the time, he was homeless, but sometimes he could rent a cheap apartment.
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A 61-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of Mariann, a missing Hungarian woman whose body was discovered in Greater Manchester, UK.
Mariann, approximately 55 years old, was last seen on 14 December in Bolton, The Guardian reports. After being reported missing, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) conducted extensive searches for nine days, including issuing public appeals in both English and Hungarian. Despite their efforts, the search ended tragically when her body was found.
Hungarian woman murdered in the UK
Specialist teams were involved in the search due to Mariann being categorised as “high-risk.” She reportedly spoke little English, which may have heightened concerns for her safety. As the GMP reported on 25 December, formal identification took place, and it was confirmed that the woman found was Mariann Borocz. Her family has been informed and is receiving support from family liaison officers.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley of GMP’s Bolton district expressed her condolences: “This is a tragic development to our extensive search for Mariann, which we desperately hoped would not be the case so close to Christmas. Our thoughts are with her family at this distressing time.”
The 61-year-old suspect remains in custody as police continue their investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding Mariann’s death. The man is appearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court today, on 26 December.
Critchley added, “We are now continuing to work hard to establish the full circumstances in order to bring answers and seek justice for this woman as our enquiries develop. We would like to thank members of the local Bolton community who have spoken to our officers and tried to help us with our search since last week, which included sharing our appeals.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the events that led to this devastating outcome.
Hungarian authorities have successfully apprehended a man from Fejér County, one of the country’s top 50 most wanted criminals, in Romania. The 29-year-old suspect, from Zichyújfalú, was arrested in the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), where he had moved to start a new life.
The arrest took place in cooperation with Romanian law enforcement agencies, Index reports. The man had been on the run since spring and was wanted for 29 criminal offences, including robbery, bodily harm, violation of personal freedom, road endangerment, harassment, misuse of unique identifiers, crimes against traffic safety, driving under disqualification, vandalism, and theft.
According to the police, the suspect had been living in Székelyudvarhely, where he had taken up manual labour. Romanian police arrested him on 5 December while he was at his workplace.
The man is now in custody, and Romanian authorities will decide on his extradition to Hungary at a later date, according to a report by Fejér County police.
Europol launched its 2024 Most Wanted campaign with two Hungarian nationals on the list, the Police Investigative Office said on the police.hu website on Monday.
Europol’s most wanted list – media campaign
The annual media campaign organised by Europol and the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST) this year focuses on killers, police.hu said.
One of the Hungarians is wanted for attempted manslaughter and the other for manslaughter.
Engelbert Balogh is wanted for stabbing a man in the stomach in the heat of an argument in 2022, the statement said.
Crime Attempted: Murder
Sex: Male
Approximate height: 172 cm
Eye colour: Brown
Identifiers Arm(s) – Tattoo(s) Picture Hand(s) – Tattoo(s) Mark
Date of birth: December 3, 1993 (31 years)
Nationality: Hungarian
Ethnic origin: European
Spoken languages: German, Hungarian
State of case: Ongoing investigation
published on November 22, 2024, last modified on November 22, 2024
On the evening of 5 October 2022, the 31-year-old man was in Tatabánya, in the basement storage room of a staircase of a residential building in the Sárberk housing estate, with his friends: two men and two women. During the night, he got into an argument with one of the men and stabbed the victim in the abdomen with a knife during the disagreement. The man was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition, and his life was saved only thanks to rapid medical intervention. Engelbert Balogh is charged with attempted murder. However, the young man has escaped prosecution and is hiding from the authorities. It is also possible that he is abroad, and the police have issued him both European and international arrest warrants.
János Gál has been wanted since September 2024, on suspicion of having stabbed his wife and mother-in-law on September 11. His wife died, the statement said.
Crime: Murder, grievous bodily injury
Sex: Male
Approximate height: 175 cm
Eye colour: Brown
Identifiers Arm(s) – Tattoo(s) Abstract Design
Date of birth: March 25, 1982 (42 years)
Nationality: Hungarian
Ethnic origin: European
Spoken languages: Hungarian
State of case: Ongoing investigation
published on November 25, 2024, last modified on November 25, 2024
It is suspected that the 42-year-old man stabbed his wife and mother-in-law with a knife in Hajdúböszörmény on the evening of 11 September. The 32-year-old woman suffered injuries so severe that she could not be saved and died on the spot, while her 55-year-old mother was taken to hospital by paramedics. The perpetrator fled the scene, taking his wife and their child with him. The police found the 4-year-old boy unharmed at the home of an acquaintance of the man, but the father had escaped. He has not been found since. He may have fled abroad and is also wanted on European and international arrest warrants.
Help the police with information
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of either of them is asked to contact the police. And please also check the Europol Most Wanted page to see if you recognise any fugitives and remember seeing them. More than 50 wanted fugitives could be found anywhere in the world. Help the police and take a look at the photos! Don’t let those with blood on their hands go free!
The case of Katalin Zsiga, a former policewoman wanted for refusing military service, has captured widespread attention due to its complexity. Listed on police.hu since late November, Zsiga previously accused colleagues of serious misconduct, including rape, claims that were dismissed by investigators.
Former policewoman on the wanted list
As Blikk reports, a former policewoman, Katalin Zsiga, is wanted by the Investigation Prosecutor’s Office of the Capital for refusing military service. The 32-year-old, listed on police.hu since 27 November, had previously accused colleagues of raping her and filming the act, allegations that were never proven. The case has sparked public interest, with some mistakenly contacting an unrelated woman whose phone number has been in use for 20 years. Frustrated by persistent calls, the woman threatened to report the harassment to the police, highlighting the controversy and confusion surrounding Zsiga’s case.
Sexual violence case
In 2021, former policewoman Katalin Zsiga alleged that two colleagues from the border service drugged, raped, and videotaped her at a boarding house, claiming the footage was shared in a Viber group. She reported the incident to her commanding officer but was instead sent to a psychiatric hospital. Following this, Zsiga went on leave but was later called back to duty, which she refused out of fear of encountering one of her alleged abusers. Her refusal was classified as a refusal of military service, a serious charge against her.
Zsiga also filed a complaint with the Regional Investigation Prosecutor’s Office in Szeged, accusing the two officers of aggravated sexual violence. However, the investigation concluded swiftly in February 2023, with authorities determining no crime had been committed.
Wanted for refusing military service
The case of former policewoman Katalin Zsiga, wanted for refusing military service, remains shrouded in mystery. When queried about the proceedings, the Central Investigating Prosecutor’s Office provided a guarded response, citing the presumption of innocence and legal protections around personal data. They stated that only limited details about their actions, such as decisions to initiate investigations or procedural steps, can be disclosed, leaving many questions unanswered.
No way to reach her
In December 2022, Zsiga was reportedly ordered to the Judicial Observation and Treatment Institute by the Military Council of the Metropolitan Court, though it is unclear if this was carried out. Attempts to contact her have been unsuccessful, as her Facebook profile is now unavailable, and she remains unreachable by phone. The silence surrounding her case continues to fuel speculation and interest.
According to the latest report by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Hungarian prisons are still overcrowded, with most inmates “having no or limited access to work, education or other out-of-cell activities.”
CPT delegation
Based on its visit to Hungarian detention facilities in May this year, the CPT said that “material conditions in police detention facilities were adequate for short periods of police custody (of up to 72 hours). However, according to the relevant legislation, persons remanded in custody may still be held in such facilities for longer periods, up to 60 days. Although it would appear that this rarely happens in practice, the conditions of detention in police holding facilities remain unsuitable for extended stays.”
The report singled out the prison in Tiszalök, in the north-east, where it said “physical ill-treatment by staff, such as slaps, punches, kicks, and truncheon blows to the head and body” appeared “particularly problematic.”
“The alleged ill-treatment took place in areas not covered by CCTV cameras, notably in the storage room on the disciplinary/security block, in the medical consultation room, in communal showers and in cells,” the report added.
Furthermore, the report said that “not only do the findings of the visit suggest that staff did not always intervene promptly, but the delegation also heard credible allegations that certain prisoners were allowed or even instructed by staff to mistreat their cellmates.”
Hungarian prisons: the impact of the guards on the inmates
Most prisoners asked did not complain about treatment by their guards, though “several credible allegations of physical ill-treatment of detained persons were received. The CPT also heard several allegations of excessively tight handcuffing, sexual harassment of female detainees by male police officers, verbal abuse, including of a racist nature, of detained persons by police officers, and of humiliating remarks in respect of transgender persons,” the report said.
The CoE delegation visited psychiatric institutions in Kistarcsa, outside Budapest, and Berettyóújfalu, in the east, and received no reports of physical violence against patients.
“Material conditions in both establishments were adequate in many respects,” the report said, adding however that “patients accommodated on closed wards had in practice virtually no access to outdoor areas, which is unacceptable.”
The delegation consulted with the Hungarian authorities regarding illegal migrants and concluded that “it is regrettable that there is still no legal procedure offering effective protection against informal forcible removals of foreign nationals (pushbacks) and refoulement, including chain refoulement.”
Over the past 12 years, the number of women suffering from intimate partner violence in Hungary has more than doubled, placing the country at the top of the EU rankings. A staggering 54.6% of Hungarian women report experiencing psychological, physical, or sexual violence from a partner, often repeatedly. Despite rising crime rates, few cases lead to prosecution, and many victims hesitate to seek help due to a lack of trust in authorities.
Scary numbers in intimate partner violence against women
In the European Union, 31.8% of women report experiencing intimate partner violence, with 14.6% facing repeated abuse, Szabad Európa reports.
However, Hungary’s alarming figure of 54.6% surpasses all other member states, followed by Finland (52.6%) and Slovakia (50.2%).
By contrast, countries like Portugal, Bulgaria, and Poland report significantly lower rates (22.5%, 20.5%, and 19.6%, respectively). Hungarian women also face more severe forms of abuse, with 41.1% subjected to physical and sexual violence, according to the results of a studyconducted by Eurostat, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), which has just been published for the period 2020-2024.
Worsening trend: Women do not trust authorities
The trend is worsening; in 2012, only 21% of Hungarian women reported such experiences. The doubling of cases is reflected in police statistics, yet only 6% of victims currently turn to authorities for help, down from 14% a decade ago. This reluctance stems from limited legal action and inadequate protective measures.
Hungary’s refusal to ratify the Istanbul Convention, citing alignment with national policies and existing legal protections, has drawn criticism.
Women’s rights expert Dr Noá Nógrádi argues that Hungary’s legal framework and institutional practices fail to protect victims effectively.
Issues include inconsistent application of existing laws, insufficient temporary restraining orders, and a lack of tailored victim support services.
Civil society organisations also highlight the absence of accessible data. Without systematic research and analysis, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of policies or to implement meaningful reforms. Dr Nógrádi stresses that comprehensive data collection is a prerequisite for addressing societal issues like intimate partner violence. However, in Hungary, organisations conducting such research often face stigmatisation.
Without genuine political will and structural reforms, experts warn that Hungary will struggle to combat its worsening domestic violence crisis effectively.
A 16-year-old Ukrainian girl has disappeared in Budapest.Aljona Mihajljo left her home in District II on 23 November 2024 and is now in an unknown location.
The Budapest Police Headquarters District II Police Department is conducting a procedure under the wanted number 01020-157/1669/2024 in the case of Aljona Mihajljo, who is in an unknown location. The 16-year-old girl left her home in District II on 23 November 2024 and has since then been at an unknown location, police.hu reports.
This is what she was wearing when she disappeared
Aljona Mihajljo is 168 centimetres tall, of slim build, with light brown hair down to her shoulders. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing blue jeans, black high-heeled sneakers, a white long-sleeved T-shirt, a black short, split leather, fleece jacket and a black leather handbag. The girl, a Ukrainian national, speaks Hungarian well.
Police are asking anyone with information on the girl’s whereabouts to come forward. The girl, a Ukrainian citizen, speaks Hungarian well.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl is asked to call the 24-hour hotline 06-80-555-111 or the emergency number 112.
Hungary is a popular tourist destination because it is perceived as a safe place, but one question arises: how long can this be maintained when there is a huge police shortage?
Police shortages
An article by HVG reports that police shortages could be much higher than the officially published police figures, according to trade unions. They say the government is hiding the problem and that in the central part of the country, for example, they can often only ensure adequate numbers by sending uniformed officers from other parts of the country.
Official figures show a shortfall of only 4-5,000, with a 91.3 percent saturation rate, yet there are reports that fish guards have been deployed to patrol some areas.
Police presence
It also tells us that Isaszeg, for example, which is part of the Budapest agglomeration, has only sent patrols to its 12,000 residents when the municipality pays millions extra to the police. This also means that in Hungary, police presence in cities is not included in the basic service.
Additionally, a key element of the police shortage is that, since the border police were disbanded under the first Orbán government, the police are still protecting the southern border from migration pressure, where they are being deployed. In addition, the government’s policy also requires police officers to serve abroad, for example, in the Balkans, in the fight against migration, while there are not enough local police.
Low pay, low number of applications
The situation is no better regarding police recruitment: around 2,000 police officers are recruited yearly. The 10-month patrol training course is attended by 500-700 people a year, while the two-year officer training course attracted thousands more a few years ago. This September, only 116 people started their studies at police technical schools, HVG reported, citing the National Police Headquarters.
In an interview with RTL last year, police human resources chief Csaba Czene said that, including all training and recruitments, 1,000-1,100 new police officers are recruited each year. This also means that they can broadly compensate for those leaving, but he admitted that the other sectors have a solid drain, especially in Budapest and the central part of the country.
Police salaries are not very attractive, despite pay rises in recent years, because much of them have been eroded by inflation: the average salary for professional staff is around HUF 470,000 net (EUR 1,100), including bonuses.
Firefighters have the same problem
In fact, the problem is not unique, the fire brigade has an official understaffing of 10 percent, but the union understands that there are municipalities where the problem is much greater. The firefighters’ union said that in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, a quarter of the staff is missing.
An Albanian Antifa activist accused of committing acts of violence at a Budapest rally was arrested in Paris last Tuesday, the man’s attorneys told the AFP news agency.
Hungarian authorities have requested 32-year-old Rexhino Abazaj’s extradition so he can be held accountable “for his role in violent conflicts in Budapest in February 2023”, AFP said.
He is accused to have been a member of a group clashing with the participants of a demonstration held in connection with the anniversary of the Nazi breakout of the Castle District during the siege of the capital in February 1945.
Abazaj’s attorneys said he would not accept the arrest warrant, triggering a review of the request which could last several months, AFP said.
The German authorities have detained a man believed to have been the leader of a violent extreme left group, which had assaulted people they considered far-right, in Germany and in Budapest.
Members of the group attacked participants in a neo-Nazi march in February 2023 in Budapest.
The suspect, referred to as Johann G, is believed to have committed violence causing serious injuries, damage to property and forgery of official documents, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said.
Police in Amsterdam seem to be quite creative in trying to solve a 15-year-old murder case involving a 19-year-old Hungarian sex worker, Bernadett Szabó (Betty). They created the life-size hologram of the girl reaching out for help. The police hope the new solution will help people feel connected to her and come forward with information.
Life-size hologram may help police
The brutal murder of Ms Szabó went cold 15 years ago since the detectives could not solve it. The girl was stabbed multiple times at her workplace, but police were unable to catch the perpetrators. Now, they hope they will find somebody who has important information by creating a life-size hologram of the Hungarian woman asking for help. They said it was their ultimate attempt to solve the cold case.
According to the Dutch police, the week-long campaign started yesterday in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. They said, “various methods will be deployed to draw the public’s attention to this young woman’s tragic death”. Probably the most creative and eye-catching solution is the girl’s life-sized hologram asking passer-bies for their help.
Betty left Hungary to work in Amsterdam’s Red Light District as a prostitute when she turned 18. She became pregnant but continued to work even during her pregnancy and started again after she gave birth to her baby. Three months later, she was brutally murdered in her workroom.
Her baby was placed in a foster family
Her body was discovered by two fellow sex workers. They realised they did not see her on 19 February 2009, and at 1 A.M. they decided to check on her. What they found was horrific. Betty was stabbed at least 12 times by the unknown murderer and left in her room in a pool of blood.
Despite the police’s extensive investigation, checking all the camera footages in the area, a meticulous inspection of the crime scene, etc., the perpetrator could not be found.
The Amsterdam Cold Case Team quickly agreed to have a final look in that sad case. “Although, of course, every murder case is terrible, Betty’s story is particularly poignant in a number of ways. A young girl, just turned nineteen, who was robbed of her life in a horrible way, and who didn’t have an easy life before she died. She worked long hours as a sex worker and kept working until just before she gave birth to her son. This son was placed with a foster family shortly afterwards and never had the chance to get to know his mother”, explains Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, member of the Cold Case Team.
It is impossible that nobody knows anything
The police believe that since Betty was murdered in one of the busiest areas of the Netherlands, it is almost impossible that nobody knows anything about it. They also raised the reward to 30,000 euros.
Apart from the hologram, they will use other methods to raise people’s attention on the murder case. “For example, a house at the corner of Korte Stormsteeg and Oudezijds Achterburgwal will be devoted entirely to the murder case. There will be large stickers on the windows with information about the case, and television screens showing, among other things, the crime scene, the last film images made of Betty while still alive, and a documentary”, the Dutch police wrote.
The hologram technique is new for even the police
The 3D visualisation technique was not used before by the metropolitan police. “This is the first time we do something like this and, to be honest, we’re a bit nervous. We want to do justice to Betty, to her family and friends, and to the case. Therefore, before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up. Of course, there has also been contact with her relatives about this. We are committed to doing this with dignity and with the clear purpose of achieving some form of justice for Betty by finding her murderer or murderers”, Benjamin van Gogh, coordinator of the Amsterdam Wanted and Missing Persons Team and responsible for the campaign said.
“It is difficult to determine what it takes to get possible witnesses in this case to share their information with us”, explains Van Gogh. “So, the reward has been raised, but we also believe that Betty’s hologram may create a certain connection with her and thus convince a person to come forward. In this type of case, we always try to put a face on a victim, so that informants know who they’re doing it for, and the hologram is a way of taking this a step further”, he concluded. Moreover, they will use traditional ways, too. They will put posters in the area, and flyers will be handed out.
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At the end of October, Budapest installed 26 new fixed traffic cameras across the city to reduce speeding and improve road safety. These advanced cameras caught around ten thousand speeding drivers in the first four days alone. The authorities prepared the public for these changes with announcements on TV, online and through press releases, not only to enforce compliance but also to encourage safer driving habits and reduce accident rates.
As we previously covered, the police have identified the main checkpoints where these new cameras will enforce speed limits, focusing on high-risk areas. These include major bridges such as the Árpád Bridge, both ends of the Rákóczi Bridge, the Buda exit of the Petőfi Bridge and busy roads such as Szentendrei Street, Üllői Street, Budaörsi Street and Váci Street. The authorities are hopeful of a significant improvement in road safety as a result of the focus on the busiest areas.
The effectiveness of these cameras varied depending on their location. According to 444.hu, over 2,000 offences were recorded at the Buda end of Petőfi Bridge, which is the busiest checkpoint. Other busy areas such as Üllői Street and Szentendrei Street also saw thousands of offences, while quieter areas such as Növény Street recorded only 48, indicating a lower rate of speeding.
Recent speeding fine changes
Since mid-August, Hungary has raised traffic fines by around 50% to intensify the impact of penalties on offenders. For example, unauthorised overtaking now costs HUF 65,000 (EUR 158) (up from HUF 39,000 (EUR 95)), and parking in restricted zones incurs a fine of HUF 150,000 (EUR 365). Currently, fines range from HUF 50,000 (EUR 121) to HUF 468,000 (EUR 1,141), especially for extreme speeding violations. As Indexreported, exceeding speed limits by a substantial margin, such as going 25 km/h over in a 50 km/h zone, can lead to a massive fine. Higher speed limits, like 100 km/h, also come with similarly severe penalties for violations.
Authorities and traffic experts anticipate that these higher fines will make drivers think twice before breaking traffic rules. This is especially true for speeding and illegal parking, both of which often lead to accidents. According to KSH statistics, in the first half of 2024 alone, Budapest recorded 1,422 road accidents; while not all were due to speeding, non-compliance remains a major factor.
The Hungarian national figure is 6,867, which makes the number of traffic accidents in Budapest strikingly high, equivalent to the combined total of three or four counties. A big part of this is Budapest’s fast pace: it is one of Hungary’s busiest cities, where people often drive quicker to beat the traffic. Moreover, the city’s dense population naturally means more pedestrians on the streets, which adds to the risk of accidents. These factors make the high accident count unsurprising, given the mix of speed, congestion, and heavy foot traffic.
With the new cameras and fines in place, officials aim to cut down on violations and make Budapest’s roads safer for everyone. For drivers, knowing where these cameras are could encourage more responsible driving, helping them avoid fines and contribute to a safer, smoother traffic flow across the city.