site.btaUPDATED Interior Minister Mitov: Assault on Police Officers Will Have Consequences

“I categorically condemn the aggression against the police officers who, with responsibility and professionalism, guarantee the right of every Bulgarian citizen to peacefully express their protest or support for causes they believe in,” Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said about tensions during a protest by Vazrazhdane against the introduction of the euro, quoted by his Ministry. 

"The latest assault and aggression on policemen will not be left without consequences. Because I firmly believe and will uphold the right of everyone to peacefully and responsibly express their opinions freely but without hurting others," the Interior Minister said.

"The ugly scenes in front of the buildings of the Bulgarian National Bank and European Commission in Sofia, which we witnessed today, have been documented and the offenders will be held accountable for their actions," he said.

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov ordered urgent measures and actions by police across the country to identify and detain all those responsible for the vandal attacks against the office of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Sofia, the Ministry of Interior said later on its website.

Minister Mitov and Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior, Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov, held an emergency meeting at the Interior Ministry with the members of the operational staff of Sofia Police Directorate responsible for the security of mass events in the capital, the message said.

Earlier on Saturday, six people were detained during the protest.

Two of them were released as they have immunity, the Interior Ministry said. One of the detainees with immunity was wearing a mask and threw incendiary materials at the EC/EP building.

"Immediately the competent structures of the Ministry of Interior should bring out of anonymity all persons involved in the vandalism in the centre of the capital. They will bear responsibility for their actions, which are unacceptable for a member state of the European Union," Minister Mitov said at the beginning of the meeting at the Interior Ministry. The meeting was also attended by Deputy District Prosecutor Atanas Dotsinski, who together with his colleagues is already working on the relevant pre-trial proceedings for the vandalism in Sofia.