On Sunday, around 400 people gathered on the outskirts of the town, most of them associated with a far-right movement. About 80 police officers guarded the houses of Roma residents. No incidents were reported. The national headquarters will analyse police reports and documents and prepare a report on the conclusions for the police chief, Garamvölgyi stated.

People around town said that recent thefts by Roma had led them to ask for the help of the New Magyar Guard, a new illegal formation of the radical nationalist Jobbik party. On Saturday night, some of them went on ‘patrol’ when about 80 Roma armed with garden tools, knives and other weapons marched towards them, one of the ‘patrollers’ told the Hungarian News Agency (MTI).

Ten Roma organisations issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the situation in Cegléd pointing out that Roma families live in fear and some fled their homes to stay with relatives. László Földi, the local mayor said that a false rumour ignited the tensions, indicating that he planned to move 40 Roma families into the outskirts of Cegléd.

Source: Ministry of Interior - kormany.hu