A Bulgarian ferry carrying Syrian migrants clashed with police during a checkpoint on Tuesday (November 22), injuring a police officer and four passengers, according to the Interior Ministry, which lamented the increase in incidents.
The minibus carrying twelve Syrians did not stop at the checkpoint 40 kilometers south of the capital Sofia, then hit a police car on the ring road.
“This type of crime epidemic.”
The St. Anna Hospital in Sofia reported that the 51-year-old policeman and the 20-year-old migrant received head injuries, the official’s life-threatening condition. Three passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries. The driver, a Bulgarian, who drove the car without a driver’s license, known to the police, was also injured.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Petar Todorov, announced his resignation, condemning the government’s inaction, while incidents have multiplied for three months. “We are witnessing an epidemic of this type of crime“said investigative judge Marian Marinov.
Bulgaria, a member of the European Union (EU) but not the Schengen area, has a 269 km external land border with Turkey and has seen an increase in clandestine crossings. The incident is reminiscent of what happened on August 25 in Burgas on the Black Sea coast. Two policemen died when they were hit by a bus of migrants, whose road they blocked.
The authorities then consolidated and equipped the 234 km long barbed wire fence with cameras. A campaign against police and customs corruption has started. In the ministry, Petar Todorov called for stricter legislation against smugglers, who were mostly sentenced to simple fines.
More than 14,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Bulgaria since January
On November 8, a 30-year-old policeman guarding the border was also killed by a shot fired from Turkish territory. A policeman armed with a flashlight came down after noticing the damaged part of the fence.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Bulgaria has arrested 14,427 illegal immigrants since January, compared to 8,254 in 2021.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.