Police in Slovakia say they've foiled a bizarre case of attempted cannibalism after shooting a man who allegedly planned to kill and eat a Swiss citizen he met online.
The suspect, whose identity was not released, was shot five times in a gunbattle with officers on Tuesday, police said. A police officer also was injured.
Investigators say the suspect used the Internet to search for a person who wanted to commit suicide or be killed and would agree to let him eat the body. A Swiss man initially agreed but later changed his mind and informed authorities, police said.
"He (the Swiss citizen) wanted to die, and agreed to have his body quartered and subsequently consumed by a person whose identity we did not know," Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic told media at a briefing, The Slovak Spectator reported.
An undercover officer who pretended to be the would-be victim agreed to meet the suspect near Kysak on Tuesday, as agreed, police said.
According to plan, the Swiss man had agreed to be drugged, stabbed in the heart and butchered in a wooded area, according to Police Commissioner Jaroslav Spišiak, the Spectator reported. His body, hidden under brush and then doused with black pepper, would be consumed over time.
Police spokeswoman Denisa Baloghova said Wednesday that when the suspect was confronted, a gunbattle ensued and the suspect was shot five times.
The suspect, who was in serious condition, has been unable to speak with investigators, Baloghova said.
A 37-year-old officer also was shot and was in critical condition.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.