Mass grave of 700 victims killed by antifascists in 1945 discovered in Slovenia

Slovenia: WWII-era mass grave discovered

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — An expert says a mass grave has been discovered in Slovenia containing bodies of about 700 victims killed by antifascists in the wake of World War II.

Marko Strovs, who heads the government’s commission for exhuming mass graves, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that researchers examined a pit in a forest near the town of Prevalje in the country’s northeast last week and discovered the bodies.

Yugoslav antifascists killed Nazi collaborators after the war. In many cases, victims also included innocent civilians.

Strovs says authorities acted on a tip from a local witness and that some of the victims were likely from neighboring Austria.

He says some of the victims were shot and some appear to have been killed by a tool, possibly an ax.