Kaunas police open criminal probe into mosque incident

Kaunas police have opened a pre-trial investigation into Friday’s incident at a mosque in Kaunas, LRT reported. The investigation concerns possible incitement against a religious group and interference with religious services.

Police said the decision followed a review of video footage and reports received after the incident. The investigation is being conducted under Articles 170 and 171 of Lithuania’s Criminal Code.

Police also launched administrative proceedings on Friday over an unauthorised gathering. Officers are investigating who organised the bikers’ gathering and whether people were invited to attend. Police said some participants had already been identified and that others could be identified if necessary.

According to the news portal Kas vyksta Kaune, a group of bikers disrupted Muslim prayers at and outside the mosque. They chanted “Lithuania”, made noise, played rock music loudly and brought a pig’s head. Police said the bikers did not have a municipal permit to gather outside the mosque.

Mufti Aleksandras Beganskas said the action was directly aimed at Muslims. He said the bikers shouted at and threatened people gathered at the mosque, while police officers on duty allegedly ignored the behaviour. Beganskas said an internal police investigation should establish whether officers had fulfilled their duty to ensure public safety.

Kaunas police said they were not currently planning additional security measures around the mosque. Police representative Odeta Vaitkevičienė said officers would respond if information emerged about possible unrest or other threats.