Split Police Investigate Attack on Journalist After Man Allegedly Strikes With Hoe

May 12, 2026 – Croatia –

Croatian authorities are investigating a serious incident in Split after a journalist was reportedly threatened and attacked by a man using a hoe on the city’s waterfront, prompting a police probe into possible criminal threats linked to his professional work.

According to reporting from HINA and local outlets, the incident occurred on Split’s Riva promenade, where a man approached journalist Siniša Vuković while he was walking with his wife and began verbally confronting him over his reporting. The suspect allegedly shouted politically charged insults and accusations related to the journalist’s work before the situation escalated.

Police reports indicate that the man then retrieved a hoe from a nearby stall and moved toward the journalist in what authorities are treating as a threatening act. Vuković reportedly managed to distance himself from the attacker, avoiding physical injury, and later filed a report with the police.

The Split-Dalmatia Police confirmed that they received a complaint and launched a criminal investigation into the case, treating it as a suspected threat related to the journalist’s professional activities. Officials have not publicly released the suspect’s identity while inquiries are ongoing.

The incident has been widely condemned locally, with city representatives and media organizations highlighting concerns about increasing hostility toward journalists. Authorities stressed that they are examining all circumstances, including the suspect’s motive and whether the attack was directly linked to the journalist’s reporting duties.

The case remains under active investigation, with police continuing to gather evidence and witness statements. Officials have indicated that further procedural steps will follow once the suspect is formally processed, including potential charges if intent and threats are confirmed.

The episode adds to a broader pattern of reported intimidation and physical or verbal attacks on journalists in public spaces in Croatia, raising renewed concerns about press safety and freedom of expression during field reporting.

Reference –

https://www.hina.hr/news/12343586

https://www.portal.hr/en/novosti/hr/108517-uhicen-muskarac-je-motikom-nasrnuo-novinara-splitskoj