Poles Fear Wanted Murderer Living in Iceland

The Polish consul to Iceland Michal Sikorski and another Icelandic resident of Polish origin recently contacted local police authorities reporting that one of their countrymen who is wanted for murder in Poland is living and working in Iceland.

Sikorski told Morgunbladid that the suspected murderer had attacked his fellow countryman in Iceland. They were known acquaintances because they had served time together in a Polish prison.

According to the Polish media, the man is a member of a gang and is suspected of having killed a man from a different gang with a machete. His gang is also suspected of dealing drugs, assaults and human trafficking.

Sikorski said he had talked with the suspect yesterday and that he planned to turn himself over to the police because he did not want to give people the impression that he was running from the law.

According to Fréttabladid, even if the man does turn himself over to the police, they cannot arrest him until they have received a warrant for his arrest in Iceland from Polish authorities. The Polish arrest warrant is apparently not valid here.

Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason said a parliamentary bill on an amendment to the laws is currently in the works, which would enable the Icelandic police to recognize arrest warrants that have been issued other countries.

Sikorski told Morgunbladid that members of the Polish community in Iceland are concerned about criminals living among them. “I have discussed this matter with many Polish citizens living in Iceland and they worry that dubious individuals come to Iceland from Poland.”

“Such individuals ruin the reputation of all Poles and they also often attack their countrymen,” Sikorski said, adding that a group of Poles have begun collecting signatures from people who request from Icelandic authorities they do not grant Polish criminals residence and work permits in Iceland.

Recently a Polish gang attacked other Polish residents in their home in Reykjavík.