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Unprecedented clashes between police and protesting football fans in Sofia

published on 11/17/23 9:40 AM

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.

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