Two people suspected of being linked to cutting off the electricity for air compressors at one of the COVID wards at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka were taken into custody late on Sunday, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County police said on Monday.

A criminal investigation has been launched against them.

As reported earlier by the hospital, about 3.30 am Sunday two unidentified persons cut off the electricity for air compressors in two places. Patients were not in any danger at any moment and their therapy was not jeopardised as the system quickly switched to an alternative oxygen generator.

Technical staff at the hospital quickly repaired the damage reconnecting the electricity supply, the hospital said.

The hospital’s director Alen Ruzic inspected the site where the incident occurred but did not wish to speculate about the motive behind the incident.

As soon as the incident was reported, the police launched a criminal probe, the hospital said.