The crime-fighting unit of Slovakia’s National Criminal Agency (NAKA) has detained suspects for the brutal murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová.

Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová were killed on February 21, 2018, in their home in Slovakia’s Veľká Mača, Trnava Region.

Kuciak was an investigative journalist for Aktuality.sk website, dealing mostly with stories concerning tax fraud.

Slovakia’s police have confirmed the information about the arrests of several people in connection with the murder of Kuciak and Kušnírová, reports the Sme daily, as cited by The Slovak Spectator.

“The house searches and other procedural acts are currently being carried out. We will provide more information when possible,” the Slovak police informed on Facebook.

“I’m in shock, I have no further information. I know it won’t bring our children back to life, but I wish for justice to be served. I hope the police will detain not only the executioners, but the ordering parties as well,” said Zlatica Kušnírová, mother of Martina Kušnírová.

The operation of the Slovak police was carried out in Kolárovo, Nitra Region, including by using a police helicopter.

The media reports say that a total of eight people have been arrested for the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak.

One of the detainees is reported to be Tomáš S. from Kolárovo, a former police investigator in Komárno and a later private security service officer.

Slovakia’s police are said to have managed to identify Kuciak murder suspects using images from an American satellite which captured a person close to the crime scene at the time of the double murder, and subsequent analysis of car and people movement.

“Although I don’t have any specific information about the investigation, I appreciate the significant progress in the case,” said Slovakia’s Interior Minister Denisa Saková, regarding the investigation which has interrogated over 200 people so far.

“Though I’m glad about the progress in the investigation, there is still a long way towards a valid verdict, she added.

Back in February 2018, the then head of Slovakia’s police Tibor Gašpar said the murders of Kuciak and Kušnírová could have been motivated by the latter’s work. This was confirmed earlier in September by the prosecutor working on the case.

Street protests organized after the murders led to the resignation of then Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and later of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose Cabinet was replaced by the one led by Peter Pellegrini.

(Banner image: Wikipedia)