More than 1,000 residents of Radnevo gathered in front of the Roma neighbourhood of this town in southern Bulgaria for a third straight day on Thursday to demand justice for three ethnic Bulgarians beaten by a group of Roma men in a scuffle over right of way.

There were no clashes between protesters and police who sealed off the Roma neighbourhood, according to BNR public radio broadcaster.

Riot police in full gear were deployed at the entry points to the town to check incoming vehicles and prevent repetition of Wednesday’s clashes in which three police officers and six protesters had been injured. 

Earlier on Thursday, a judge granted a prosecution request to remand in judicial custody four Roma men charged with attempted murder during Monday’s scuffle in Radnevo sparked by a dispute over right of way.

Also on Thursday, the prosecuting authorities launched a criminal investigation of two teenagers suspected of causing bodily harm to police officers during Wednesday's clashes.