It happened in broad daylight, on the 13th of May this year, at the infamous Metelkova Street in the centre of Ljubljana: a 23-year-old Somali national and a 45-year-old Nigerian national allegedly followed a young girl into a toilet on Metelkova, broke in and raped her. The police have recently confirmed our unofficial information.
“Regarding your questions, we can confirm, while also abiding by the guidelines of personal data protection, that on the 13th of May 2023, we dealt with two cases of a suspected sexual offence committed in the Ljubljana city centre. The two suspects, a 23-year-old Somali national with an established permanent residence in Slovenia, and a 45-year-old Nigerian national who has been residing in Slovenia for several years on the basis of a valid residence permit, were traced and brought before the investigating judge because of a criminal complaint, who ordered their detention,” the Ljubljana Police Directorate told us recently in response to our journalistic questions. They added that they could not provide details about the crimes in order to prevent the victim from being victimised again and to respect the provisions of Article 287 of the Criminal Code.
“The police are implementing preventive measures, cooperating with the competent institutions and liaising with the local community. In doing so, we are gathering further information, monitoring the situation and then adjusting our actions on an ongoing basis in order to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, any possible criminal acts and to ensure the general safety of the people. At the same time, we urge all victims and witnesses of possible criminal acts to immediately inform the police at 113, or anonymously at 080 1200,” the Ljubljana Police Office wrote.
Metelkova, or the City Autonomous Cultural Centre Metelkova, according to Wikipedia and the website http://www.metelkovamesto.org/?mode=static&id=19, is an autonomous cultural centre located in the centre of Ljubljana, in the northern part of the former Austro-Hungarian military barracks complex along the Metelkova Street. Metelkova is considered to be one of the most important centres of alternative culture in Slovenia. Metelkova is a centre of artistic and craft creation, political action and independent cultural production in the fields of music, theatre, painting, video, comics, sculpture and other arts, well known throughout Slovenia and the world. It is also known as a relaxed and inspiring social space. Sixteen years ago, it was created precisely because there was no such space in Ljubljana. Metelkova’s painstaking but energetic development was made possible by the many groups that fought for it again and again, establishing autonomy, new spaces, new content and new culture. In addition to the spaces that, as in any other city, are mainly dedicated to socialising, entertainment and the exchange of opinions and ideas in the evenings, many artists and craftspeople work in the studios and workshops of Metelkova. Their murals, statues, benches and games, their care for the parks and their creation of new hidden corners contribute to the liveliness and vibrancy of Metelkova. Over the years of its creation, it has acquired its own visual image, completely separate from the capital, which reminds the visitor at every step of ground-breaking events, inputs of creative energy, and social reactions to the works created.
L. K. F., Demokracija
