Sofia Police: 57 People Detained During Last Night's Protest

Fifty-seven people were detained for up to 24 hours before, during and after last night’s protest, the Sofia Directorate of the Interior (SDVR)said on December 11. Of these, 24 were already known to police for various offences, including hooliganism, drug possession, bodily harm, robbery and theft. One fast-track criminal proceeding has been launched for drug possession.

Police also identified 22 under-18s and two minors, who were handed over to their parents. Some of them also had prior records for theft, robbery and hooliganism.

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Ahead of the protest, police had operational intelligence indicating planned provocations. As a result, around 40 individuals were removed from the area; officers found prohibited items including knives, knuckledusters, masks and pyrotechnics. Two of those stopped were carrying 10,000 leva and 1,500 euros. A separate fast-track proceeding was opened at the First Police Station for drug possession. An 18-year-old was detained after officers found a small plastic bag of marijuana on him; he had been stopped near the protest by a mobile police unit.

According to the Head of Sofia Directorate of the Interior, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, officers responded rapidly to an incident on 'Vrabcha' Street, near the headquarters of 'MRF – New Beginning', where a large group of youths displayed aggressive behaviour towards police. The Sofia police have video footage of all those who acted violently or committed unlawful acts, and they will be detained subsequently, Chief Commissioner Nikolov confirmed. He added that their profile corresponds to that of football hooligan groups and local gangs.