Mława riot (original) (raw)

The Mława riot, or Mława incident, or Mława pogrom, was a series of violent devastations and looting incidents on 26–27 June 1991 when a group of youth estimated at 200 individuals, including young females, invaded the homes of Roma residents of the Polish town of Mława causing them to flee. Not a single Roma person was injured in the riot, but the material losses were substantial affecting up to 40% of residences. Many perpetrators were arrested on-site; a number of them sentenced to jail after a trial. The violence was described as motivated by racism and jealousy. The incident that triggered the riot was the killing of a Polish pedestrian struck along with his companion in a hit-and-run by a Romani male driver.