[ad_1]
Clashes and escalation of tension in the center of Sofia. The new political season began with a blockade of parliament. Law enforcement officers get up early in the morning. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, taking hundreds of protesters away by truck.
PHOTOS OF THE PROTEST SEE HERE
The Interior Ministry announced that they are ready to use force if necessary. “Aggression against the police is increasing. More than 20 law enforcement officers were gassed with an unidentified substance. We had to wear personal protective equipment. If the situation worsens further, I categorically affirm that the police will use physical force,” said SDVR director Senior Commissioner Georgi Hadjiev.
Photo: BGNES
Dissidents fired eggs and bottles of water at the new parliament building. They blocked a police patrol, tried to hand over the cars to the Gendarmerie and break the cordon in front of the National Assembly.
“They measure their classmates with rocks, tomatoes, eggs, and hard objects. 20 policemen were injured. We are trying to reduce the tension in front of the National Assembly building. We are there to maintain civil order, “Hadjiev added.
The situation at noon of the protest is calm. The police presence on the ground remains extremely strong. According to official data, there are currently eight detainees, six of whom have a criminal record for robbery or theft.
Many law enforcement officers were also injured during the protest. Most of them were gassed with a spicy spray thrown by the protesters. However, the protesters also complained that they had been gassed by an aerosol used by the police.
8 arrested at the protest in Sofia, including Golemiya Dambovets
Photo: BGNES
Tensions began to escalate at 8 am Clashes broke out between the police and protesters before the deputies started working. After shelling with tomatoes, eggs and stones, a spicy spray was also used. Protesters, policemen and journalists in the square were injured.
“Many of us on the front lines have suffered. We try to avoid everything that happens as provocation. We do not want blood,” said one protester.
“A protester put his hand under my helmet and sprayed me. We always came out with a heavier attitude,” explained one of the victims in uniform.
NOVA equipment gassed at the protests in Sofia (VIDEO)
Reporters and cameramen were also gassed. Among them are three NOVA teams working on the front lines of the protest. “Everyone started crying. The cameraman Biser, who tried to show it all, was the one who suffered the most. He was standing in the front line, next to the protesters. They sprayed him directly in his eyes and he couldn’t see for about 10 minutes. ”, Explained the reporter Mariana Tormanova.
The police sought a dialogue with the organizers. Nikolai Hadjigenov of the Poison Trio insisted that they did not want the protest to be violent and escalate.
“Most of the protest is peaceful. The protests always attract people who want it to escalate the wrong way. They have nowhere to hide, the love of the people has already driven them,” explained Nikolay Hadjigenov.
Photo: BGNES
According to NOVA, Plamen Stoyanov – Dambovets, as well as his son Dimitar, were detained at the First Regional Hospital in Sofia. According to their lawyer, Lyudmil Rangelov, they attended the protest and were taken to the police station. According to their lawyer, traces of violence remained on their bodies, either committed by law enforcement officers or as a result of another incident.
Protesters smashed yellow cobblestones (VIDEO + PHOTOS)
Some of the protesters broke the yellow cobblestones. According to unconfirmed information, they would be used as a weapon against the police at a later stage.
The SDVR has repeatedly asked citizens for a peaceful protest.
Tension on Dondukov Blvd. There was also a clash between the police and the protesters. The escalation led to information to discontents that the deputies would be removed from the old Party House, where they were sitting.
Several times bombs were thrown and tear gas was sprayed. Wounded police officers were taken away and some were arrested. A fire department arrived at the scene.
The situation in Nezavisimost Square is calm at noon.
According to NOVA, more than 40 signals were received at the Emergency Department. 21 ambulances responded to the scene of the protest. Sixteen people, including police and protesters, were hospitalized. Seven ambulances continue to inspect the field. The Emergency Service clarified that the protesters had sent many false signals since the morning.
Reporters: Iliana Shishkova, Mariana Tormanova
Subscribe FREE to the nova.bg newsletter HEREto receive the most important news of the day in your email.
[ad_2]
