Bulgarian Parliament Guarded by Iron 'Wall'

Politics » DOMESTIC | November 13, 2013, Wednesday // 08:22
Bulgarian Parliament Guarded by Iron 'Wall': Bulgarian Parliament Guarded by Iron 'Wall' The square in front of the Bulgarian Parliament in the capital Sofia was violently cleaned from protesters Tuesday evening by huge reinforcement of riot police and iron fences to guard it were built overnight. Photo by webcafe

As most metal railings around the Parliament building were pushed down by protesters Tuesday evening, the police have built stronger iron barricades overnight.

Policemen have told TV reporters that the stronger metal fences around the Parliament are used to guard rock concerts.

According to data from the Ministry of Interior, 23 people have been detained during the antigovernment protest on Tuesday.

At this stage, there is no information about serious injuries after clashes between police and protesters. Police have beaten Plovdiv university students, who have arrived in the capital to join the protest, according to eyewitnesses.

After ten hours of antigovernment protests in the Bulgarian capital Sofia with tensions and direct clashes between riot police and demonstrators, huge government reinforcement arrived around 9:30 pm, and violently pushed people with their shields and batons from the square in front of the Parliament.

The square was fully cleaned at 9:45 pm.

Some of the citizens raised their hands in sign they were asking for non-violence.

However, groups of provocateurs were also present, dressed in sweatshirts, with hoods on their heads, attacking the police with bottles and stones, and trying to provoke clashes.

The public television BNT showed live footage of beatings by police, people lying on the ground and a group of young men holding onto a car parked on the perimeter of the square in order to resist the police shove.

Tuesday was the 152nd day of antigovernment protests in Bulgaria.

According to the BNT reporter, the protest has just calmed down Tuesday evening when the huge riot police reinforcement suddenly arrived and started to violently push people away which resulted in cleaning the square.

Reached on the phone Wednesday morning, the Chief Secretary of the Interior, Commissar Svetlozar Lazarov, refused any comment.

The public TV, BNT, also reported that some of the protesting students retreated to the occupied by them building of Sofia University upon being informed that groups of provocateurs have infiltrated the protest.

The students informed Wednesday morning that the occupation of the university building remains in place and the blockade of the school will not be lifted as announced earlier.

Bulgaria is facing a new day of unrest Wednesday as protesters are unwavering and amidst reports that other people are travelling to Sofia from the countryside to join them in support.

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Tags: anti-government protests, parliament, clashes, riot police, violence, students, occupation, Sofia University, Chief Secretary, interior, Svetlozar Lazarov

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