Slovenian police have released new details regarding the manhunt for 41-year-old Croatian national Srđan Aleksić, who was found dead in a house in Uršna sela after a two-day flight.
Dejan Kink, head of the Novo mesto Police Unit, said at a press conference that Aleksić attacked two police officers in the forest and seized their weapons and mobile phones, Index.hr reports, citing Radiotelevizija Slovenije.
According to Kink, the fugitive fired multiple times during the pursuit, including at members of the special unit. Police returned fire on two occasions: first in the forest, and secondly at the house in Uršna sela where Aleksić was holding a hostage. After the special unit entered the building, the suspect was found dead; the circumstances of his death are to be clarified by an autopsy.
The manhunt began on Friday evening. Aleksić used a weapon to force an individual to drive him to Kočevje in the Gotenica area, where he threatened a man in a van at a supermarket car park and stole the vehicle. That same evening, he robbed a petrol station in Črnomelj, stealing approximately 600 euros in cash and tobacco products.
Police soon spotted him on the road between Črnomelj and Dolenjske Toplice, but he did not respond to stop signals. Following the pursuit, he abandoned the van near Uršna sela and fled into the forest.
158 police officers from various Slovenian police units, members of the special and specific police units, police dog handlers, drone operators, and a police helicopter were involved in the search. Kink described the operation as one of the most difficult police operations in independent Slovenia.
The 41-year-old Croatian national has a history of violent criminal offences. According to data obtained by Slovenian authorities in cooperation with Croatian police, his last such offence occurred on 9 July in Pula, where he injured one person during an armed robbery.
"He was a well-trained individual in good physical condition, who had trained in martial arts and knew how to handle weapons," Kink said, dismissing claims that Aleksić had been a member of the police or military. The Croatian Ministry of the Interior had previously stated that Aleksić had never been a member of the Croatian special police.
Deputy Chief of the Slovenian Police Donald Rus stated that the most important outcome was that the danger to citizens had been removed. Minister of the Interior Franci Matoz confirmed that all police officers had returned home uninjured and announced plans to strengthen the police force and improve equipment.
