ZAGREB, 28 January 2021 - Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić has strongly condemned an attack on workers of the state-owned HEP electricity company in the eastern town of Pakrac on Wednesday morning, wishing the injured workers a speedy recovery.
"I was horrified by the news of this morning's attack on HEP workers. I condemn this incident in the strongest terms and wish the injured workers a speedy and successful recovery. Also, there are those who find justification for this act in their comments on social networks, which is outrageous, insane and intolerable," Ćorić wrote on Twitter.
A 71-year-old man threw an explosive device at three HEP workers after they came to disconnect him from power supply on the company's orders. Two of the workers were injured and the attacker was arrested.
Speaking on behalf of the Serb Minority Council in Požega-Slavonia County and as Deputy Mayor of Pakrac, Nikola Ivanović also condemned the attack. "We don't want this insane act by an individual, who is a member of the Serb community, to jeopardise the good interethnic relations in Pakrac," considering the town's devastation during the 1991-1995 war, he said, adding that the Serb community cannot be held responsible for this incident.
Ivanović highlighted good cooperation with HEP with regard to the re-electrification of the remaining villages in the area still without electricity, saying that this made the attack "all the more regrettable."
