history has made "a mockery out of laws of humans and God." Madl made the comments as Hungarians held a national day of mourning to commemorate 8 people who were killed when two gunmen unleashed a hail of machine-gun bullets during a hold-up May 9.
The eighth victim, 27-year old Eva Hegyi, died only hours before Madl attended a ceremony near the attacked Austrian owned Erste Bank in the small traumatized town of Mor, 60 kilometres (35 miles) west of Budapest. (Map from BBC).
Hungarian News Agency MTI quoted Madl as saying that violence like the "cruelty" of last week in Mor made clear that his nation must "prevent these tragedies" as they can "deeply wound the great majority."
POLICEMEN SEARCH
Thousands of Hungarian policemen and special anti terrorist units are said to be involved in the country’s largest manhunt in recent history to search for the armed robbers. Hungarian Police offered a reward of up to 93,000 dollars for information leading to their arrest.
"I know that law enforcement is doing everything it can to see that this horrible deed does not go unpunished, " Madl told the audience. He stressed that the national day of mourning should become one "of solidarity and hope," as well as of "deep mourning and commemoration."
Hungary’s first ever female Speaker of Parliament Katalin Szili, who was elected earlier this week, and outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, were also among those attending the ceremony, MTI said.
SPIRITUAL ANSWERS
In the capital Budapest, parliament’s flag flew at half-mast and black banners covered public buildings, at a time when Hungarian officials are seeking spiritual answers for the rising crime and social
problems of the post Communist society.
Incoming Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, a former Communist turned Socialist, has already held talks with several church leaders about their role in society and families and plans to integrate church affairs within his Office.
His Hungarian Socialist Party, heir to former Soviet backed Communist Party, has made clear that Christianity is a "valuable asset" to the Social Democracy it claims to represent.
