Source: AP via International Herald Tribune and PinkNews
ZAGREB, Croatia: A 25-year-old man has become the first person in Croatia to be convicted of a hate crime and was jailed for 14 months for trying to attack a gay parade with gasoline bombs, a court said Tuesday.

Josip Situm was convicted Monday of endangering lives and property under two-year old hate crime legislation after police caught him when preparing to throw the homemade devices at Gay Pride marchers in Zagreb's main square last summer.

The court in Zagreb also ordered Situm to undergo psychiatric treatment during his time in jail.

Situm told his trial that as a Roman Catholic he opposed gay parade events, the state-run news agency HINA reported.

Police spotted him at the Pride event in the Croatian capital Zagreb on 7th July 2007 with petrol bombs, but he fled the scene. He was later arrested.

Prosecutors say he prepared his petrol bombs at home and intended to throw them at gay marchers.

Situm denied the charges and said he had decided not to attack the Pride march, which he objected to because he is a Roman Catholic.

He is the first person convicted of a hate crime in the country since they became an offence under the country's Penal Code in 2006.

Ten people were injured when violence broke out at the gay Pride march in Zagreb.
A gang of around 20 young men taunted and abused the Pride participants. Police arrested eight people.

Full article: Croat jailed for 14 months for attempting to attack a gay parade - International Herald Tribune
Pride petrol bomber jailed for attempted attack | PinkNews