ZAGREB, October 24, 2018 – Two Croatian police officers were slightly injured on Wednesday when a group of migrants at the Maljevac border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina threw rocks and other objects at them after they failed to cross the Croatian border, the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.
At one point, as the Bosnian police were trying to push the migrants away from the border deeper into their own territory, a group of migrants started straight towards the Croatian police who then repulsed their violent attempt to enter Croatian territory illegally. The migrants then started to throw rocks and other objects at the Croatian police, the statement said, adding that two policemen were slightly injured and requested medical attention.At one point, as the Bosnian police were trying to push the migrants away from the border deeper into their own territory, a group of migrants started straight towards the Croatian police who then repulsed their violent attempt to enter Croatian territory illegally. The migrants then started to throw rocks and other objects at the Croatian police, the statement said, adding that two policemen were slightly injured and requested medical attention.
The Maljevac border crossing point was still closed to traffic on Wednesday afternoon because a large group of migrants had gathered on the bridge in the immediate vicinity of the border checkpoint.
Shortly after 2pm, about 50 Croatian police officers in full riot gear joined their colleagues already deployed at the border crossing.
According to unofficial sources, three migrants were injured in the standoff and received medical assistance from members of the Doctors Without Borders organisation on the Bosnian side of the border.
Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović said on Wednesday afternoon that he had discussed the situation at that part of the border with his Bosnian counterpart Dragan Mektić, and added that there was no need for the Croatian police to respond on Bosnian territory. “The situation is not easy, however, the Bosnian police are investing maximum effort to ensure the withdrawal of the migrants from the border line,” Božinović said.
About a hundred illegal migrants who arrived in the northwestern town of Bihać in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday have been bussed back to Sarajevo to be accommodated in a new, 400-capacity refugee centre in the suburb of Hadžići.
They arrived in Bihać by train but were prevented by the police from leaving the train and going into the centre of the town. They were moved from the train into buses and sent back to Sarajevo.
The action was taken by the local law enforcement authorities to ensure security in Una-Sana Canton, where the situation has escalated following the arrival of irregular migrants.
