Mława riot

Mława riot
Photograph of the Mława town centre
Date26–27 June 1991
LocationMława, Poland
TypeEthnic conflict
CauseKilling of a Polish pedestrian struck along with his companion in a hit-and-run by a Romani male driver
TargetRoma residents
Property damage17 houses of Roma residents seriously damaged, four houses and nine apartments vandalized
Arrests21
Convicted17

The Mława riot, or Mława incident, or Mława pogrom (Polish: Pogrom mławski), was a series of violent devastations and looting incidents on 26–27 June 1991, when a group of youth estimated at 200 individuals, including young females, invaded the homes of Roma residents of the Polish town of Mława, causing them to flee. Not a single Roma person was injured in the riot, but the material losses were substantial, affecting up to 40% of residences.

Many perpetrators were arrested on-site; at trial, a number were sentenced to jail. The violence was described as motivated by racism and jealousy. The incident that triggered the riot was the killing of a Polish pedestrian struck, along with his companion, in a hit-and-run by a Romani male driver.