Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Unprecedented clashes between police and protesting football fans in Sofia

3
Photo: BGNES

33 police officers have been injured during the protests of football fans in front of the Vasil Levski National Stadium during the European qualifying match between Bulgaria and Hungary last night. 
Several people have been hospitalized, reported the director of the Sofia Police Lyubomir Nikolov. A Municipal Police minibus was set on fire and dozens of police cars were damaged. Damage was caused to many cars of citizens in the center of Sofia and to the city infrastructure. 

33 protesters have been detained, including minors. 


There is no police force in the world which would let hooligans cause wreckage. If we hadn't used water cannon and pepper spray, many innocent victims would have been hurt and there would have been more damage, Lyubomir Nikolov said. 

According to the police, the clashes were an unprecedented violation of public order with serious aggression and a high degree of risk. At the time of the tension, there were more than 4,000 protesters and more than 1,500 police officers mobilized.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

Gallery

More from category

Sunny 24 May, with occasional showers and thunderstorms

Clouds will break and decrease overnight, except in eastern Bulgaria. Light to moderate winds will blow from west-northwest.  On Friday, 24 May, the weather will be mostly sunny before noon . Cumulus clouds will cover the skies over mountainous..

published on 5/23/24 7:05 PM
Gordana Siljanovska (L) and Rumen Radev (R)

Rumen Radev: North Macedonia should indicate its desire to be part of united Europe

''My message to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia is that Bulgaria expects a prompt change of rhetoric and an end to hate speech", President Rumen Radev told journalists in Rome. "The Republic of North Macedonia must demonstrate that..

published on 5/23/24 6:06 PM

A protest against the lawlessness on the roads held in Sofia

The association "Angels on the Road", uniting families who lost their loved ones in road traffic accidents, held a motorcade and a pedestrian march in Sofia under the slogan "STOP lawlessness on the roads". They were supported by a number of NGOs...

published on 5/23/24 5:08 PM