Day 56 of anti-government protests: tension; clashes, throwing of small bombs; police bring water cannon

day anti government protests tension clashes throwing small bombs police bring water cannon

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от БНТ

23:58, 02.09.2020

Clashes, tear-gassed and arrested people on the first day of the autumn parliamentary session on September 2. There were injured police officers, protesters and journalists. Tensions continued throughout the day.

On the 56th night of protest in the Triangle of Power in the capital Sofia, tensions escalated further after 21:00 p.m. A group of protesters began throwing drink cans, eggs, plastic bottles, and then small bombs at the police cordons in front of the National Assembly building.

After 22:00 pm, the police extended the perimeter of the protected area and clashes broke out. There was a sharp reaction from the protesters, who threw even more small bombs, all sorts of objects, as well as paving stones and parts of broken flower pots. More people were arrested.

At 23:00 p.m., a water cannon was positioned in the area of the protest.

Journalists were also affected by the clashes in today's protest. Two BNT teams were affected by tear-gas, including reporters Nikolai Minkov and Milena Kirova.

The protest organisers, the so-called “Poisonous Trio” said from the rostrum that if their main demand - the resignation of the government - is not met by tomorrow, they will be in the same place again in the morning and will continue the protest.

At 23:30 pm, police arrested protesters. Some of the demonstrators claimed that public order had been violated - police had used violence and arrested them.

In the area of the Presidency building, the police used tear gas against the protesters.

The BNT team, together with the reporter Milena Kirova, who was covering the events in this area of the protest, was also affected by the gassing. This is the second BNT team affected, after reporter Nikolai Minkov and the cameraman Miroslav Milkov were gassed earlier during the day.

At 23:00 p.m., police began to further expand their perimeter. A group of protesters stood in front of the thick cordon and applauded the police. This was followed by boos, and the police were called "janissaries".

Shortly before 23:00 pm, police brought a water cannon to the Triangle of Power. It was parked on Dondukov Blvd and at 23:00 p.m., it was moved closer to the protest.

The machine was then used to disperse the protests. A corridor for passage was formed.

Tensions escalated minutes after 22:00 p.m. as police expanded the perimeter of the protected area. This happened after another small bomb was thrown towards the building of the National Assembly. One of the protesters tried to breach the cordon.

In response, protesters began throwing even more small bombs, smoke bombs, bottles and all sorts of objects. The protesters began to dig out paving stones from the pavement, using all kinds of materials to throw at the building of the National Assembly.

The police split in three directions. One group headed for the Presidency. The other group at the Council of Ministers - about 2-3 rows. The third group remained in front of the National Assembly building. All protesters were pushed into one perimeter.

At 22:00 pm, the police presence in the Triangle of Power remained intensified, and protesters formed a chain of people in front of law enforcement officers in an attempt to protect them.

The police officers raised their shields above their heads and took up a defensive position. Groups of protesters threw small bombs right behind the backs of law enforcement officers.

At around 21:00 pm, young people, disguised in masks and goggles, started throwing small bombs and the tension escalated.

In response, women protesters lined up in front of police to stop the provocateurs.

One of the organisers of the protest - lawyer Nikolay Hadzhigenov, told BNT that most likely there were provocateurs. That is why the others have formed a human chain between the police and the protesters.

After another small bomb blast, two of the protesters were taken out by police.

Law enforcement officers were again wearing shields and helmets, in a defensive position.

There was some tension around 18:00 pm when the protesters gathered outside the National Assembly building, with women on the front line. The protesters started booing the police.

Minutes before 7 pm, mothers from the "System Kills Us" lined up their children's wheelchairs in front of the police cordon on Dondukov Blvd.

At 18:30 p.m., following calls from protesters, police removed their shields and the protesters applauded them.

Police officers in "anti-conflict" vests remained on the front line.

Three police cordons formed at 18:00 pm. The protest organisers from the "Poisonous Trio" called on women and children to line up in front of the police.

Protesters began booing the law enforcement officers and throwing eggs at the building.

Chanting "Take off your helmets" to the police has begun.

Protesters were hugging police officers.