A violent confrontation between two long-standing feuding Roma families in the Bulgarian city of Haskovo left three people injured and seven others detained, following what authorities described as a mass brawl in front of building 42 in the city’s “Orfei” district. The incident unfolded in an area already marked by repeated clashes between the same groups, with local residents reporting a history of disputes, previous physical confrontations and a damaged vehicle linked to the latest escalation.

According to information cited by BGNES, the clash involved members of two families with a prolonged rivalry stretching back years. The confrontation took place outside a residential building where tensions had reportedly been building over time. Witnesses and those affected claim the conflict escalated after one of the families settled in an abandoned house nearby, further aggravating relations in the neighborhood.

The owner of a damaged vehicle, Sevdzhan Mehmedali, said the group responsible for the incident had recently moved into the area and had caused repeated disturbances. “They were conflicted, did not work, made a living by stealing and repeatedly fought with our relatives and neighbors,” she said, describing ongoing tensions that she claims affected the entire building. She also alleged that the feud between the families includes a history of extreme violence, stating that a relative from the opposing side had previously been involved in a fatal stabbing.

Police detained seven individuals in connection with the incident, while two men and an elderly woman sustained injuries during the confrontation. Authorities have not released further details about the condition of the injured or the specific charges that may follow, but the case is being treated as part of a broader pattern of recurring violence in the area.

Residents also pointed to another separate violent episode in the same district earlier in the week, on Yastreb Street, where two men were stabbed during a different altercation. The back-to-back incidents have heightened concerns about escalating tensions in parts of Haskovo.

The events coincided with International Roma Day, observed on April 8. The date marks the First World Roma Congress held in London in 1971, when representatives adopted the Roma flag and anthem, including the song “Dzhelem, dzhelem.” The day was later recognized by the United Nations and the European Union in 1992 following a proposal by the International Roma organization “Romani Union.”

The Roma flag features a red wheel with 16 spokes set against blue and green fields, symbolizing sky, grass, and the historical nomadic traditions of Roma communities. The wheel, known in ancient India as the “chakra,” reflects the group’s origins and long migration from India to Europe, serving as a cultural reminder of shared heritage and identity.