December 09, 2013 - 6:23 AM
PRAGUE - The head of a Roma youth singing group says her students were attacked in an eastern Czech town.
Ida Kelarova, a well-known singer and musician, says 19 singers from the Chavorenge group were attacked by about a dozen men Friday evening in Hodonin. She called the incident "shocking."
Kelarova said Monday the attackers targeted four singers and kicked them in front of the others, who included eight-year-old children. Nobody was seriously injured.
The singers came for rehearsals with the local high school to prepare for two December concerts in the city of Brno with its philharmonic orchestra.
Police spokesman Petr Zamecnik said Monday the attackers have not been caught.
Some 250,000 Roma, or Gypsies, in the Czech Republic endure high unemployment and are often targeted by far-right groups.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013